Disney $43.25M Gender Pay Discrimination Settlement

Woman who worked in a salaried, full-time, nonunion position for a Disney-related company in California may qualify to claim a cash payment from a class action settlement.

The Walt Disney Co. and its affiliates agreed to pay $43.25 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging they paid female employees in certain positions less than men in California. The settlement resolves claims brought under the California Equal Pay Act, the Fair Employment and Housing Act and other state labor laws.

Who is eligible for a Disney payout?

Class members must meet the following criteria:

• They are a woman.
• They worked for a Disney-related company in California at any time between April 1, 2015, and Dec. 28, 2024.
• Their position was salaried, full-time and nonunion.
• Their job level was one of the following:
• B1-B4
• T1-T4
• TL
• P1-P6
• P2L-P5L
• M1-M3
• A1-5
• E0
• E1
• E1X

• They worked below the level of vice president.

There are two main groups included in this settlement:

• EPA class: Women employed in the covered positions and time period certified under the California Equal Pay Act.
• FEHA settlement class: Women employed in the same covered positions and time period for gender-based pay discrimination claims under the Employment and Housing Act.

How much is the pay discrimination payout?

• Calculated payment: At least $200 for every class member and based on the their job level, tenure and pay history
• Private Attorneys General Act group members: Female employees who worked for Disney in a covered position on or after July 15, 2018, will also receive an equal share of $62,500 from the PAGA portion of the settlement.

No claim form required

Class members do not need to file a claim to receive payment, which will be mailed automatically to the address on file. Those who moved or think their contact information changed should contact the settlement administrator as soon as possible.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: Rasmussen v. The Walt Disney Co., c/o CPT Group Inc., 50 Corporate Park, Irvine, CA 92606

Settlement administrator's email address: RasmussenvTWDC@cptgroup.com

Settlement administrator's phone number: 1-888-801-2208

Payout options

The settlement administrator will send paper checks to the address on file.

$43.25 million Disney settlement fund breakdown

The $43,250,000 settlement fund includes:

• Settlement administration costs: Approximately $100,000
• Attorneys' fees: Up to $14,416,666.67
• Attorneys' expenses: Up to $1,800,000
• Service awards to class representatives: $10,000 each ($90,000 total)
• PAGA payment: $250,000 ($187,500 to Labor and Workforce Development Agency and $62,500 to PAGA Group members)
• Payments to eligible class members: The remainder of the fund

Important dates

• Opt-out deadline: Aug. 13, 2025
• Final approval hearing: Sept. 15, 2025

When is the Disney gender pay settlement payout date?

Payments will be mailed to class members after the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged women who worked for Disney-related companies in California were paid less than men for similar work in violation of the California Equal Pay Act and other laws.

The Walt Disney Co. denies all allegations of wrongdoing and liability. Both sides agreed to settle to avoid the risks and costs of continued litigation.

Sources

1. Class Notice
2. Settlement Agreement