Pay Transparency Job Posting Settlements Explained
Some states require job postings to list pay ranges. In Washington, applicants can sue when they do not. Here is how pay transparency settlements work and who can claim.
Pay transparency job posting settlements pay people who applied for jobs whose postings did not include the salary range or benefits information a state law requires. Most of these class actions come from Washington, where the law lets applicants sue. If you applied to a Washington job posting from a settling employer during the class period, you may be able to claim a payment.
What pay transparency laws require
A growing number of states and cities require employers to share pay information. The rules differ, but often require one or more of the following:
- ✓Listing a wage scale or salary range in job postings
- ✓Describing benefits and other compensation in the posting
- ✓Providing pay information to applicants or employees on request
Washington's version took effect at the start of 2023 and requires job postings to include the wage scale or salary range and a general description of benefits and other compensation. Other states, such as Colorado, California and New York, have their own laws, but they are mostly enforced by state agencies rather than through lawsuits by applicants.
Why the cases are mostly in Washington
Washington's law gives job applicants a private right of action, meaning they can sue an employer directly over a non-compliant posting and seek statutory damages. That made it practical for lawyers to bring class actions on behalf of all applicants to an employer's postings. Washington has since amended the law to adjust damages and give employers a chance to correct postings, and courts have weighed in on who counts as an applicant. Those changes can affect newer cases, so the notice for each settlement is the authority.
Open pay transparency settlements
Covenant Transport - Job Postings (Washington) Class Action Settlement
You may be included in this settlement if you applied for a team driver position with Covenant Transport in Washington between January 1, 2023 and June 17, 2024.
Sizzling Platter WA Job Postings Settlement — Est. $613.71, Up to $5,000
WA Employment Sizzling Platter WA Job Postings Settlement — Est. $613.71, Up to $5,000 An equal share estimated at $613.71 or more for people who applied for a Sizzling Platter Crew Member or Lead job in Washington.
Lily Transportation - Job Postings (Washington) Class Action Settlement
You may be included in this settlement if you applied for a job opening with Lily Transportation in Washington between January 1, 2023 and December 10, 2025.
Belcan Washington Job Postings Settlement — Est. $1,292.77
WA Employment Belcan Washington Job Postings Settlement — Est. $1,292.77 An equal share, estimated at $1,292.77, for people who applied to a Belcan job opening in Washington whose posting left out the pay range.
Updated daily from the SettleScout catalogue. See every open settlement.
Who qualifies
The class is typically everyone who applied to a job posting for a position in Washington, at a named employer, during a set period, where the posting lacked the required information. You generally do not need to have been interviewed or hired. Many employers use online application systems, so the administrator can often identify applicants from those records.
If you applied through a third-party job site rather than the employer's own page, you may still be included. The class definition explains which applications count, and the claim form may ask for the email address you used.
How much they pay
Because Washington's law provides statutory damages per applicant, these settlements can pay more per person than many consumer cases. The amount depends on the size of the fund, the number of applicants who file and the plan of allocation. Estimates in a notice are not guaranteed and can change as claims come in.
How to file
- 1Search your email for application confirmations from employers in Washington during the class period.
- 2Compare the employer and dates with the open settlements.
- 3File on the official settlement website, using the email or name you applied with.
- 4Keep your confirmation and update your payment details if they change.
Is it taxable?
Settlement payments to applicants may be reported as income. Since you were not an employee, they are often treated as non-wage payments, which may be reported on a 1099. See are class action settlements taxable and ask a tax professional about your situation.
Keep your application records
Save confirmation emails and screenshots of job postings when you apply, including whether a pay range was listed. If a posting for a Washington job left out pay, those records can help show you are in the class later. They are also useful for comparing offers, which is the reason these laws exist.
Does filing affect a future application?
Employers are generally not allowed to retaliate against applicants for exercising their legal rights. If you are worried about how filing might affect a job you still want, contact the class counsel listed in the notice.
If you applied to several postings from the same employer during the class period, check whether the settlement pays per application or per person. Many pay per person, but the plan of allocation decides. Do not file duplicate claims, since administrators screen for them.
Our guide to settlements for employees covers related workplace cases. If you have applied for jobs in Washington, add those employers to SettleScout, and it will flag matching job posting settlements and remind you before the claim deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have been hired to claim a job posting settlement?
No. These settlements cover applicants, and you generally only need to have applied to a qualifying posting during the class period. The class definition sets the exact requirements.
Do I need to live in Washington?
Not necessarily. What usually matters is that the job you applied for was in Washington, or that the posting was covered by Washington law. Check the class definition in the notice.
Are there pay transparency settlements in other states?
Most class actions so far have been in Washington, because its law lets applicants sue directly. Other states mainly enforce their laws through agencies, though that can change as laws are amended.
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