$1.61M Zale Delaware and Sterling Jewelers job posting class action settlement

Zale Delaware Inc. and Sterling Jewelers Inc. have agreed to a $1.61 million class action settlement to resolve claims they violated Washington job pay transparency laws.

The Zale settlement benefits individuals who applied for a job with Zale Delaware and/or Sterling Jewelers in Washington between Jan. 1, 2023, and July 26, 2025, where the job posting either failed to disclose pay or benefits information or listed a wage scale or salary range below Washington’s applicable annual minimum wage.

Zale Delaware and Sterling Jewelers are jewelry companies that sell products under several brands, including Zales, Jared and Kay Jewelers. The companies employ thousands of workers across the country.

According to claims made in the class action lawsuit resolved by this settlement, the companies violate Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act by failing to provide sufficient information about pay and benefits in their job postings. Under Washington law, employers are required to include wage scales, salary ranges and general descriptions of benefits in job postings. The law also requires employers to provide this information to applicants during the hiring process.

According to the equal pay class action lawsuit, Zale Delaware and Sterling Jewelers failed to comply with these requirements. As a result, job applicants claim they were not able to make informed decisions about whether to apply for jobs with the companies.

Zale and Sterling Jewelers have not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a $1.61 million settlement to resolve these allegations.

Under the terms of the Zale settlement, class members can receive a cash payment. Exact payment amounts will vary depending on the number of participating class members and the amount each class member is eligible to receive.

Class members who applied for jobs that did not disclose wage and salary information can receive up to $2,500 from the settlement.