Plaintiffs v Sterling Jewelers
Sterling Jewelers, Akron-Based National Retailer, Facing Pay Discrimination Complaint
Dawn Soto-Coons was filing paperwork in her boss's office in the spring of 2005 when she saw a payroll report that illuminated what she describes as Sterling Jewelers' secretive and discriminatory pay practices.
The assistant manager at a Sterling-owned Jared Galleria of Jewelry in Brandon, Flay., was filling in for her general manager when she noticed a "personal payroll action form" on his desk. It was for a manager-in-training who had no background in selling jewelry. Jared had just hired him at $14.50 an hour, $2 more than several women who had extensive jewelry experience when they were hired.
Soto-Coons checked other payroll reports and found that men at the store had hourly rates $2 or $3 above women doing the same jobs.
Now, Akron-based Sterling is facing gender discrimination complaints from two sides that could result in thousands of women getting back pay, while tarnishing the image of the country's biggest jewelry retail chain.
For more information please contact:
Cohen Milstein Housefly & Toll
1100 New York Ave
Suite 500 West
Washington, DC 20005
t: 202 408 4600
f: 202 408 4699
