Thank you for your article, based on: 1.) the falsity (come on, NYT-readers, help me with a better word!) of buying diamonds as some “proof” of love; 2.) the distastefulness of the company; 3.) the excellent writing and artfulness of the story. From Deb, in Pottstown PA.
10
Where is bill HR1073 in all this?
1
There is a lot in this article to take in - the shear breadth of the pay and personal abuses suffered by women employed by Sterling as well as the frighteningly well thought out trap doors the company built in its complaint processes. A lot of thought went in to setting up a system that took advantage of women as the best sales people to clueless men and kept them from pointing out their exploitation.
I was able to form my opinions on Sterling from the former employees statements in the story. Unfortunately, Ms. Brodesser-Akner does what she seems to do in most of her articles - makes the story about her. How she feels, how she wants other women to feel or her standing in for all women on how they would feel. I don't care about her reaction. I care about the women who actually suffered at the hands of an awful company that at one time made them feel good about themselves then proceeded to break them down. I realize the Magazine is not held to the same standard as the NYTimes newspaper but her self-involvement crosses a line.
6
Wish this article had at least mentioned the reason why no one should be buying diamonds at all.
See: https://www.brilliantearth.com/conflict-diamond-child-labor/
or see: http://everdear.co/negative-effects-diamond-mining/
Short version: cruel labor practices, diamond miners paid often $1.00 a day, environmental catastrophe where diamond mining occurs, and more.....
6
@RLiss
Your link is to a site that sells created diamonds.
2
This comment is for Danielle in the article, who said she was happy Kavanaugh was confirmed to SCOTUS.
Honey, he and his kind are the reason you experienced what you did working for Sterling.
44
Sounds like the company benefits from this story getting buried in endless arbitration and secrecy -- I'm delighted to have the opportunity to read and share across social media, along with a link to local jewelers.
9
"...to charge customers without their consent for payment-protection plans to meet their store quotas. If the customer got home and saw the charge on the receipt, he could call customer service and get it refunded, ..."
Isn't the practice illegal?! And a lesson learned by Wells Fargo's carnivorous antics?
If they can't lose for being unfair to women, they should have certainly been reported for stealing from customers.
15
Plenty more to add to this story. Just left this company in February because it was not worth putting up with the discrimination and gas lighting. It really is a sad scene at Jared.
15
Once I began to read this story today, I could not stop until I finished the whole article. Am I surprised by such long-standing, blatant, disgusting behavior? No. Would I ever consider going into any store associated with Sterling Jewelers again as long as I live? Absolutely not.
This story is important because it highlights the roadblocks put up by a company without integrity so people can continue their their illegal and de-humanizing behavior - all in the name of money and self-gratification.
It is important because it shows how woman were complicit in much of their bad experiences.
It is important because it shows what many of us already know: that men are paid more than women, which has been true my whole life.
This story also shows, sadly, that (some) men still lack the character and compassion to respect others, as their immediate dishonorable craving is more important. Their behavior reveals how ignorant and heartless these men have behaved. (What do they imagine their mothers and daughters and sisters would think of them if they knew?)
Ms. Brodesser-Akner's story is important because it shows how near impossible it is - even after years and years - to hold a company accountable. It shows how people exploited sexuality at the expense of integrity. It shows how pervasive the lack of true love is - still - in our culture.
Thankfully, before reading this story, I was already painfully aware of the crass elements in our society.
17
Unbelievable that Sterling continues to fight these women and hides under the guise of arbitration. I'll never set foot in one of their stores again. Shame on them.
16
This discrimination is nothing new. It's been happening my whole life!
6
Just adding my voice to the comment count here, which I am sure is being monitored by Jared, Signet, etc.
I'm guessing that Mother's day sales might take a dip this year, which will continue into perpetuity. Because when people skip your store this year it's not like they will return next year.
11
Most people seem to be reading this story as a reason to favor family-owned jewelry stores over chain stores, or to avoid diamonds altogether. I think the bigger story here is the impact of compulsory arbitration agreements in employment. If these women could have pursued their claims in a class action — in court or through arbitration — the issues would likely have been resolved by now and compensation awarded. Just this week, the conservative majority of the Supreme Court held that an arbitration agreement had to be interpreted as precluding class arbitration of claims brought by employees in Lamps Plus v Varela. In dissent, Justice Ginsburg powerfully explains why “consent” is meaningless when an employee has to sign an agreement like this. The bigger picture is that conservative courts continue to place obstacles to protection of the most basic civil rights.
45
The forced arbitration and non-disclosure are truly the big deal here. It allows this company to abuse employees and pay men more than women (and fail to promote them), and engage in any number of other repellent practices - while never letting the public see any of this or letting the employees have a fair hearing. Arbitration is the real enemy.
18
I'm curious what Jane Seymour's response to this has been and if she would be willing to remove herself and her jewelry line from these stores based on this story. I know I would in support of all those women.
22
Her design wasn’t that pretty anyway. One thing I have always wondered about is how any recipient felt special when given a piece of jewelry that has this other-person cachet.
4
This story of abuse of power and sexual exploitation is disgusting. It’s ironic that the victims (saleswomen) exploited their sexuality and objectified themselves for profit. Many found the work ‘fun’ and ‘glamorous.’
See, for example in this article:
‘Most of their customers were men; men are the ones who buy most jewelry, and so the female managers weren’t surprised when they were explicitly told whom to hire. “You hired women,” said Michelle…a district manager… “Good-looking women, because men were the customers.”’
“They knew those guys were looking for a woman’s soft hand to hold theirs through the process. They would stand above the display cases and swivel their pretty wrists like a magician’s assistant.’
‘Many of the women told me that stores had quotas for [credit cards, payment-protection plans and extended warranties], and sometimes, when things got desperate, saleswomen were sent to the food court to flirt with men and get them to come apply for a credit card.’
3
This is art and parcel of the brutal world of the trump regime. Shame. Shame!!
6
You can tell just from their ads they are lacking in the class department. But really, if your job makes you unbearably unhappy, look for another one.
4
Taffy Brodesser-Akner has once again proven why we need to invest in quality journalism, as readers and subscribers. The rot of Sterling’s predator culture is made bearable to witness by her thoughtful prose. She reminds us that we help by not turning away from the pain of those who suffer, especially when they are willing to show us. (This is a paraphrase of what Cynthia Bond, author of “Ruby,” had said about writing and reading about trauma.)
Thank you to Ms. Brodesser-Akner, for devoting two-plus years of your life to researching and reporting this story as well as to the New York Times for supporting her pursuit.
35
Riveting piece of award worthy journalism. Bravo! This is another reason why I continue to subscribe to the Times after 15 years. Thank you!
As horrifying as it was to read about these women’s experiences, and a rotting-from-the-inside corporate culture, it was refreshing to read in-depth coverage on a topic that is not politics. But hard to avoid the many comparisons that can be made between the Sterling company’s abhorrent treatment and disregard of women, and the current resident of the White House and his MAGA cronies. The rot indeed runs deep.
28
The obvious lesson: go to your locally owned, usually family owned, store, and find some things millions of others will NOT be wearing. I have had old or broken things redone for my children and grandchildren.
14
"Fine Jewelry" What an absolute laugh. From start to finish. This story absolutely disgusts me. But it is so well written. And it makes my blood boil because every day I walk down the street I am looked at and torn apart & hated - because I am a male. A Male who never participated in this disgusting line of thought or action.
Is there no corner, no field, no line of work or endeavor left in this sick, rotten nation that doesn't smell to high heavens with the stench of petty greed ? The Men AND (some) women who go along with said lust for money. And the Trumpian /Hillibilly Ethos of fake Class & Glamour.
Where is Monty Python & the gang when your need them ?
11
Good for her and every woman that finds herself in Dawn’s predicament.
3
1983 or 4. Retail clerk in a clothing department store in St. Ann (St. Louis) Missouri. I'm in college and working part time. I can't remember the department manager's name, just that he was very tall and stood very close. All the time. And every time he and I had to walk up narrow stairs from our stock room below, he'd be right right behind me. Too close. When he'd show me something on the register, he'd put his arm around me. I was young and very uncomfortable with the idea of telling him to step back. And I wanted to keep my job. The thought of going to HR never occurred to me.
But this absolutely doesn't begin to register on the scale of awful that wonder-writer Taffy B-A so eloquently details. Kudos for making sure that the spotlight on this company stays strong.
Ironically what I do remember from 35+ years ago is that my manager's wife, Madonna, was expecting their first child. Such odd things one remembers.
18
First: I've been an engineer for most of my life and have always worked for equal gender representation in my field. We're still far from it. But stories like this show me that while there is gender discrimination in tech, it is actually privileged compared to other fields.
Second: For my 23rd bday, my bf (now husband) surprised me by replacing my old bald tires with new snow tires. I guess that is an engineer's idea of romance but I was right out of school & broke. 1000x better than a diamond collar.
28
thank you so much for this incredible piece. the needle moves slowly, but this is the work that moves it.
26
As soon as the new shopping center here in Silicon Valley opened near us and I saw the word (unfamiliar) JARED prominently displayed - I thought it must just be another Kay Jewelers type cheap shopping mall mass jewelry store. How scary that I was right! Leftover from the era of plunging neck lines, horny managers “on their way up” and smarmy sentimental ads it isn’t surprising, just disgusting, to hear of it’s squalid history toward women and dishonest business structure. “So Shopping Mall 20th Century” long past it’s due date .
Hopefully widespread exposure, legal litigation and the “Me Too” era will rightfully do away with this sleaze.
Makes me realize, though my means were limited, why my jeweler has always been Tiffany!
16
My acid test is as follows: If these men would allow their daughters to be part of Sterling, then perhaps they aren’t as guilty as the article suggests. But I would bet my last diamond chip that their daughters wouldn’t be allowed within a mile of a Jared store, nor were they ever around when these men were assembling. I can’t believe that a public company hasn’t crashed and burned under the weight of all these hateful and despicable behaviors. These women should form their own company together, tell their stories, and allow the rest of us to steer every last jewelry purchase made by our collective households towards their company, and starve this disgraceful chain. And shame on the women taking over the company and NOT talking to the author. They may be women - but they don’t seem to be pro-women.
22
Having been employed for almost 50 years in male-dominated professions (e.g., insurance, legal), this article brought up many memories of the sexist behaviors I endured to succeed. I couldn’t stop reading this well-researched and well-written article. Thank you, Taffy Brodesser-Akner, for the personal touch employed in describing your feelings while gathering those gruesome details. Having been ripped off by Zales in the ‘70’s, I, thankfully, learned never to go near such sparkling enterprises. I am grateful for my NYT subscription and the encouragement by many readers for such fine journalism.
You make women proud - at least, this woman. Bless your heart.
30
I nearly married a renowned jeweler who worked for a more-highly renowned jeweler. She barely made a living while he raked in the revenue. Constantly, for several years, she complained about the relationship being unfair. We discussed how to narrow the gap. She wouldn’t place her current status at risk. Therefore, she unhappily remained where she was until her financial situation became unbearable. She quit and was only able to start where she had been. People, particularly men, are willing to risk all, in an attempt to have what they feel they deserve. Very few men, however, have mastered how negotiations work. So, women are not alone. Women, in my experience, are not as willing to take that kind of risk. And, so it goes without saying more. As I told her as I was departing from the relationship, guile is what brings equality between the better men and women.
5
Remember which political party supports mandatory arbitration, and appoints the judges and justices who defend it.
In fact, just such a case was decided this week. All 5 Republican appointees defended mandatory arbitration, and all 4 Democratic appointees opposed it.
55
@Greg M
Trump and his bang of grifters and cheats.
9
Please do not let this story drop. Thank you for revisiting it this year. I don't believe any woman really wants jewelry tainted with rape, harassment, assault, and discrimination. No decent man would shop there. There are still plenty of small, local jewelers who need your business. Many do custom work that is far superior to the junk they sell at the mall.
In our family, every time we hear the jingle, we counter with, "Every rape begins with Kay."
47
I will never shop at a big jewelry retailer. They creep me out. I look for good locally owned small shops.
31
This Article is 100% truth...My many female friends who worked at Jared all made the same comments..."that place is like a meat market for money"
24
I was sexually harassed on New Year’s Eve of 2019 by one of my managers in front of his gf and my friend at the time. I reported it to my store manager who “acted upset” and said he would get this into the right hands and get an investigation started with corporate and that they should be contacting me within that week. Well, after I had reported it to my store manager cut my hours and days to only 2 days a week and 25-20 hours a week, which I was hired for full time, 40hrs a week, after all this, now I was told I was PT/ seasonal! What 43 year old divorcée could afford her bills on that kind of hours/salary?! Well, 2 weeks had passed and I didn’t hear from corporate and all my friends and family said “you need to call don’t wait for them”. So, I called and sure enough not only did my store manager not report it but neither did the DM. And to top it off when I called corporate to file they knew nothing of this and they knew exactly what manager I was talking about that sexually harassed me.. this wasn’t his first complaint, he had harassed another co worker in our store. So I want to know why he still works for sterling jewelers?! So, a month goes by and I don’t hear anything, so I called the investigator who was working the case and she said she closed it out because there wasn’t enough info or witnesses and that she sent me a letter stating why she closed the case..which I never got, then she said she would send to my email and I never got that email either.... (1)
41
Beyond the absolutely appalling treatment of these women, I am in awe of the well-written quality of this article. Thank you!
37
@Marmorea
I agree with your assessment of the article's great writing.
If only more women would read these stories and understand how the Republican Party is like the KKK in terms of its treatment of women.
11
This article is so well-written. Thanks to the author. I have nothing clever to say - no advice or reflection. The article has left me without words of my own. I am just hoping for the best for the survivors and their loved ones, not only in the legal arena, but in life.
33
@Warren Light, Esq.
I agree with Warrern and urge women to vote Democrat.
7
We need a third and fourth option to more-of-the-same moneyed, lawyer interests.
1
"She is still very beautiful" is, alas, sexist.
8
@Bookish And ageist!
9
Timely article - just in time to decide what stores to skip for for Mother's Day gift shopping ...
34
@Brandy Danu- Yes! Brilliant!!!
6
Jewelry should be a personal choice. Love the idea of craft or art jewelry made by inspired people, or fair-traded creations that empower third-world women. Never felt comfortable with jewelry gifts that may or may not suit my taste and carry a tinge of obligation or status signaling.
It's my body and I can decorate it myself. Or, more often, not.
While children go hungry, we really need bling? Ugh.
9
A first step would be to get women (and men) to stop associating love with material evidence such as the size of an engagement ring. All that stuff is really a bribe to get women to assume the roles men have assigned them. But then, no one ever went broke profiting from people's insecurities--full stop.
25
This story does not represent my Sterling experiences. I was at over 20 Manager Meetings. Hot tubs and pools were secured and closed at nite and Mr. Light was not without staff. Access to alcohol was very controlled. It is unfortunate and certainly terrible that a small group of women (out of thousands), perhaps coached by plaintiffs counsel, in part, allegedly had very bad experiences. Taffy represents one side of their story. I find it interesting that this same group knew how to cheat systems to succeed (CAR, Credit Apps, etc.) And "Michelle from Akron"- who had an alleged secret affair with the CE0- how is she a victim? How does Taffy know what led to her discharge? Alot of very good people worked and work at Sterling. The story is not an accurate representation of the climate I knew.
3
@MD perhaps it's your experience that is the anomaly and not what these other women experienced.
24
@MD
You must be a man. At the least, if you were a woman, you would have experienced a salary discrimination. And, only that, putting aside sexual harassment, makes your comment invalid. Salary discrimination, based on the gender, not taking in consideration the person's qualifications is enough to go after this company.
You do not mention that aspect of discrimination in your comment in defense of the Sterling.
And, it is strange that you for some reason came to the defense of Mr. Light, who have resigned and replaced by a woman.
If you are a woman, you probably are one of those women that, for whatever favors they get from the company, do not care about other women( Women like you, signed a letter in defense of Ailes at FOX News)
We, women, know the type.
47
@MD Will you be framing this note to send to firm management for your next bonus?
16
Forget the big chains. Find a private jewelry store or jeweler. They have better quality jewelry, better prices, and service what they sell. They often have long-term employees. And if they aren’t good to customers, the word will spread and they will be out of business.
24
This - and most of the letters - are missing the larger point. The federal anti- discrimination laws need to be amended to exempt lawsuits brought to enforce them from the scope of mandatory arbitration agreements. Otherwise this kind of blatant sex discrimination in employment can continue unchecked and without any compensation to the victims.
8
I always thought that hype about "chocolate" diamonds was a load of hooey. They are inferior, discolored stones! Amazing what nonsense people will swallow.
20
They are still beautiful rocks, though. What, in 21st Century America, has not been spun?
Good for these ladies and I hope they win a big settlement. More importantly they need to get women into high level positions. All of the evidence shows that profits go up along with diversity. On the issue of jewelry we could use less of it.
18
I have a friend who works at Jared, she’s been with company about 15 years. Her last raise was laughable and the store recently hired a male manager with only four years in the industry and moved him all the way up from Florida to take over the store and never even interviewed any of the in-house women or offered him the position. All Who have been in the industry a lot longer and were all qualified.
37
Wow. The jewelry business is known for it's secrecy and latent untrustworthiness already. It's already known for crazy markups; knowing how they spent that money is sickening.
This really turns the light on a business that's rotten from mining to the time it's rung in a cash register. You can truly track this romantic claptrap from the destruction of continents to the destruction of women with example after example.
I haven't been a fan of jewelry in a long time. I feel like sharing this article to every live person in my contact list. This is the kind of article that makes me love the NYT.
36
Much of this industry is also based on mining that causes health problems, corruption and is devastating to the environment.
24
There are two things that I have always hated since I was a little girl. One was caviar and the other was diamonds and heavy gold bracelets. I don't have a single piece of jewelry to this day. It is extremely liberating. My dad used to buy all kinds of fancy jewelry for my mom who rarely wore them. He was a successful businessman. He knew the value of precious stones and metals. The best use for diamonds is to turned them into bits for drilling tools.
11
@JG
Sounds like your father was in the oil business with reference to drill bits.
3
There should be a boycott by women and men( who care about their sisters, daughters and mothers) on buying jewelry from Sterling stores.
That would hurt them more than this class-action lawsuit that has gone forever without real impact.
35
I just checked Signet Jewelers corporate website - it looks like the C-Suite is undergoing a sea change. Do I think that will change anything? Honestly, no. Signet chose this path both as a policy, and frankly, as its identity. It's more than just a 'culture' problem. For every woman who has been quietly pushed aside, or groped, or both, a 'good ole' boy' is going to cry, "But remember how wild those parties were?"
11
So if you sell a million dollars worth of jewelry in 2000 work hours, you're selling $500 per hour. A quick google just now "profit margins on jewelry" indicated that 40% is a conservative profit margin, so $200 per hour.
So $10 an hour is 5% of profits. Not income, profits. - for the person closing the sale.
Even the men are being ripped off at $13; the women are just even worse.
That "algorithm beats in the heart" of every human, by the way, not just every woman. It should be flashing red at everybody.
14
@roy brander "all lives matter!" The issue is Women!!! But thanks for the math lesson, and the mansplaining.
6
Skip the diamonds, boys-- if you want to impress me please give me a milk cow, a pair of dual-purpose goats, and 4 hectares of prime wine-grape terroir.
I know it'll be hard to show it all off at dinner parties, but we'll be so busy milking and picking grapes that we'll never have time to stray. These are better investments too-- when our kids are grown they can have their own goats and help make wine and cheese. Can't do much with a diamond!
Best of all, you won't be supporting the merchandising of misogyny and blood.
28
@Donia can't agree with you more. I hope more think like you, the world would be a better place.
Beautifully written and heartbreaking to read. I'll never feel the same way about jewelry. As a feminist in the 70s, we marched in the street to end sexism and rape and violence. What is it going to take for society to change?
29
Danielle needs serious counseling. She is in so much denial to the point her judgment is seriously clouded. It’s to the point she blames herself. Somebody needs to tell her it’s not her fault. She trusted someone who couldn’t be trusted. Not only that, but saying she remembers every single detail makes her the exception to the rule. I’m a survivor who has counseled thousands of other survivors & the most common self judgment is I can’t remember everything- especially once time starts to pass. Survivors “forget” to survive the trauma because some things are so traumatic, if they even think about it, it will literally cause them to shut down mentally & emotionally. Which leads me to my next point, she is emotionally numb. Think about it for a minute- it effected her to the point she had a complete life change with a state change included. It wasn’t enough to just get out of the city she was in- she ran several states to get away & once she started isolating herself, her self blame drastically increased which lead her to the point she’s at. Out of everyone, Danielle is who I feel the worst for, but she’s in so much denial she can’t even recognize how bad off she is emotionally.
25
As a current employee for Signet I’m heart broken to read some of this. But I do feel the article goes too far and is overly emotional. I’m not disregarding how emotional this has been for some folks. But the article does not mention how different signet is today. It barely touches upon the fact that every single offender mentioned here is no longer with Signet. I took personal offense to being called a retail assassin for knowing my trade (difference between metals and stones) we are Jewelers and we take our job seriously and yes we do help people pick out Jewelry and no we don’t flirt with people to make a sale. What happened before was sad, I never saw it in my 8 years with Kay. My boss is a female so is her boss so is the CEO of the company and half of our executive office. We are diverse, we are proud and as current employees of Signet I wish the author took more time to hear our experiences. Again completely emphasize with those who have shared their pain, not disregarding it, but this article combines elements of the past with current things to create the illusion that at signet today these things are happening. Their not... those who were wronged deserve justice, but let’s not call current signet employees sex crazed lying cheating ‘assassins’ either or disregard what has been done to change that toxic culture.
6
Awesome! But if everyone is so proud in this “new environment” - why not speak on the record and let us know it’s a brand new day at the company? Me thinks there is no substance behind these supposed changes. You can however frame you letter to the editor and gift wrap it for your boss and CEO. Maybe that will get you a nice bonus. But it sounds like it won’t be as big as the bonuses of your male co-workers!
9
‘Fine jewelry’ is all a scam anyway. They’re just rocks. And they exploit the people where the rocks are mined worse than anyone in the US. It’s pretentious to walk around with high priced rocks on your body. I’m absolutely not shocked that there’s corruption in this giant chain of jewelry stores. I just read an article in the nytimes saying half of Americans can’t cover a $400 emergency from their savings account, so I find it odd that so many of these jewelry stores exist.
15
This article was well worth the two years of effort to put together. I am typically not one to read long articles like this one, but I could not stop reading it. Thank you for your hard work.
25
I won’t be shopping with any of Sterling’s stores again. This is absolutely abhorrent behavior!! The best way to teach a company to treat it’s employees fairly & equally is to hit them in their wallets. Donald Trump made is easier for Sterling & other companies to force women into arbitration. That’s how the wealthy keep their money- by suppressing their insubordinates.
Never mind them trying to sell the general population industrial drill bit diamonds....(“Chocolate” diamonds).
This sounds suspiciously like DOD culture.... Did NYT check to see the veteran status of those implicated?
14
@MollyMarineJD love!!
1
Excellent reporting, bravo!
Ugh, this story makes me feel sick. What a disgusting company culture.
My husband likes to buy me jewelry and he always gets it from local craftspeople. It may be more expensive, but it supports local people doing what they love (and around half are women) and we get unique pieces.
25
Jared Diamond wrote a good book called, 'Why is sex fun?'; it is his worst seller, as he takes you through the animal kingdom and the value of menstruation and labor in women. I find this book to be relevant to this situation.
1
Having been in the retail industry for 30+ years and a female, I can tell you this was commonplace behavior decades ago - by both males AND females.
These allegations are DECADES old and should shed no light on the company TODAY - that is ran by an entirely different group of people, predominantly women.
Of the 70,000 women (the number of women that were employed with the company during the time frame that the suit alleges the discrimination took place) that COULD have been included in the class action suit - only a couple hundred actually chose to be included. Less than half of one percent.
So by all means, lets boycott a company that operates entirely differently today and the people that supposedly committed the atrocities are long gone from the company. Because driving a company out of business and causing tens of thousands of people to become unemployed is a wonderful thing to do - and will make up for any fouls committed decades ago by people who are no longer associated with said company. Great plan.
Sex still sells. Scandal sells even more. Sensationalized sex scandal sells the best. Do some research on what the company is TODAY and the good they do in the world today (St. Judes, Akron Childrens Hospital - and many more) and you'll find an entirely different story. But that story won't capture headlines.
5
@jjk: The allegations are decades old only because the company has stonewalled and thrown every possible legal obstacle in the way of resolution. Great, things are changing now. How does that help the people who were deeply wronged and have been asking for help for so long?
7
That employees are still forced into arbitration and not allowed to discuss salaries does not seem to have changed. Serious abuse of employees, discrimination and sexualized interactions with management are a big deal, even if they were common in that hazy MadMen past. So how exactly are things better, except the CEO has changed and the company sees that forced arbitration and non disclosure can only paper over parts of a despicable reputation?
8
WOW: a whole sales structure based on the premise of lack of interest in, lack of respect for women. A company that relies on failed human relationships, and encourages men to give material things like cheap jewelry-- instead of say, an education - which would of course free the women from taking such a low-end job in the first place.
How different from a company like Bridgewater, where everyone knows what everyone's doing and how much money they make all the time
https://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-to-work-at-ray-dalio-bridgewater-associates-2019-4#dalio-has-avoided-public-interviews-inside-bridgewater-but-cbss-60-minutes-got-an-exclusive-look-into-what-its-like-to-work-there-3
No matter what, go to school, girls!
7
So, the dirty diamond business gets dirtier.
11
While the story is informative, it's hardly surprising corporate behavior. Real news might be a large corporation that felt it was unethical to ask employees to sign away their rights for a job. But reading the comments gave me reason to pause and consider the commercial success enjoyed by Sterling. The first time I heard one of their cheesy ad lines, it gave me the creeps. I have never even entered one of their walk-in mall stores and their ads confirmed my aversion. The comments are full of pledges never to shop in a Sterling store again. Good, but what lead so many to shop there in the first place? Do people really believe diamonds signify love?
15
What a mess. Sounds like the women of this company are the true assets and the predator men could be replaced by women and most likely the company would be fine if not better.
24
I have never shopped at any of these stores and NEVER will.
33
"Maybe jewelry was always a scam, a way to decorate a woman like a Christmas tree while really ladening her with objects — around her neck, like a collar (or a choker, which, God) or around her wrist like a handcuff — so distracting that she would never really examine the bargain she was making when she put it on."
"She is 54 now. She wore jeans and high heels and red lipstick. She is still very beautiful, and the owner of the restaurant kept looking over at her, but she wouldn’t look back at him."
this article should be about criminal cases and civil lawsuits _or_ a commentary on women's fashion styles and sexual proclivities--not both. like prosecutors, defense attorneys and the rest of society are wont to do, don't confuse serious legal issues with the hearsay and opinions about social activities.
jewelry is not related to rape unless it is admissible evidence.
8
"There is a precise algorithm that lives in the heart of every woman." Really? My heart has no algorithm living within it, let alone a precise one. Can folks please learn to talk like normal people? Being underpaid is garbage, but let's not act like it's some Greek tragedy; if it were, we'd hardly be able to stand on two feet when the real tragedies of life come to our doorstep, and come they shall to each of and every one of us.
15
Not being able to support a family because of systemic issues that many people still deny is a pretty major tragedy. The slowness of its pace doesn't indicate a lack of violence.
36
@Bob: I think you missed the part about systemic support for sexual assault.
2
I'm boycotting these creeps from now on. No woman should accept jewelry bought at these stores, and we should all let the men likely to give us jewelry know it.
31
@Laurene Amen to that. I have a pair of tiny, diamond studs from Zales (bought for me years ago), and I planned on upgrading them for myself at another Zales location. That's not the plan anymore. I'm chucking these babies into the Long Island Sound and finding myself a bigger pair of studs at a small jewelry store that is NOT run by misogynist morons.
12
@AnnaK
A better solution would be to do your research and discover what a scam diamonds are in the first place. Their value is simply based on perceived demand. Dont fall for the 'I bought them for myself therefore I am a strong, modern woman'. Small store, big store you are still feeding an incredibly toxic, inhumane and avoidable beast. Spend that money on something that actually has value or better yet save the money for your future self.
7
@kone
Truly. Some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
4
Remind me how we came to equate diamonds with love? Oh, that’s right. Marketing campaigns that someone dreamed up to target people’s usual blind spots - like love, perhaps?
30
I am shocked by the uncouth and predatory behavior of management at Sterling stores. It makes me sick. These were dead end jobs for women. I cannot buy anything at their stores.
21
I'm just so disheartened that we are still raising men to believe that it's okay to behave in this way. And don't tell me that it's just about our culture. Every parent and particularly every mother should be asking themselves "how can I raise a son who won't behave this way towards women/girls?" My husband would NEVER say these things to a woman, nor would my ex-husband, nor would my 22-year-old son. And the flip side is that we as mothers need to start teaching our daughters how to respond to men who behave in this way. We need to tell our daughters to stop laughing at inappropriate comments, to stop ignoring groping and fondling, and to stop allowing men to back us into a literal and figurative corner. It's not about getting angry — it's about simply pointing out that a sexualized comment, joke, or touch is NOT appropriate. Period.
48
My single experience with a Zales left me shaken. I liked a necklace and the lovely saleslady suggested I put it on hold with a $10 deposit while I checked with my daughter that she would like that gift for her birthday. My daughter was not interested in a necklace and I returned to the store on the following day to be refused the $10. When I insisted the woman threatened me with the mall cops. She misread me and I approached a customer at the counter and warned them that the store was unethical (i think i frightened them and they left). The angry sales woman gave me back my $10 and that was that. She was so hard. I never went to Zales again.
39
Wow. What an amazing piece of journalism. This was incredibly well-written.
That being said, I will never set foot in a corporate jewelry store again (because apparently sterling owns them ALL).
These NDAs and arbitrations are plainly a tool for corruption and concealing corporate wrongdoing.
I hope the victims find peace and we as consumers can boycott such abusive companies.
65
What great writing! But what a discouraging story.
The company stinks.
But my discouragement is from many other things. Human greed, the lack of legal protections for workers and our willingness to lie to ourselves for a price. The age-old willingness of men in charge to exploit women; the willingness of the few women accepted into the male circle to defend the status quo as part of the price of admission.
Marketing - the business of advertising and selling -really does warp society.
38
For those readers that think this type of misogynistic behavior is confined to jewelry companies or sales positions, think again. For those readers who think that these discriminatory practices are a thing of the distant past and no longer take place in the era of #metoo and female empowerment, you are living in a bubble of naivete.
And it's not only male colleagues who engage in the systematic sexist behavior who are to blame, but, as this essay illustrates, it's the female colleagues who perpetuate the stereotypes and attitudes that allows the system to flourish.
47
I managed one of these stores for about a year in the late 90s. Reading this gave me flashbacks! In addition to the awful culture accurately described in this article, it's an exploitative industry in general. Salaried managers may have the opportunity to earn bonuses if their stores beat extremely high sales goals, but payroll for hourly employees was lean, so managers consistently worked longer hours to fill those gaps. The company I worked for did not pay managers commission. While this was likely to help managers stay focused on the overall success of their stores (and not take commissioned sales away from the hourly sales staff), it meant that if you divided the number of hours you worked by your salary, you were in for a rude awakening...I made less than $6 an hour most weeks, and my store generated more than $1.25M under my leadership. At Christmas, stores were to open an hour before and remain open an hour after the anchor stores in the mall. You've heard of 5 a.m. door busters? Anchor stores staying open until midnight? Well, add two hours to either side of that (an hour to set up/take down 80% of merchandise which is locked in vaults overnight, plus being open for business an hour early/later) and you've just described the horrific schedule of store managers for November and December. No time left for family at the Holidays. Please shop only independent jewelers!
64
I'm surprised the jewelry company didn't just classify their saleswomen as "models." Then it is perfectly legal to discriminate in favor of sexy, young women. This is a common practice in Las Vegas. You classify a young good looking employee as a model and teach her to mix drinks. In contrast, if you classify her as a bartender, then you have to deal with gender, age, and racial discrimination laws.
24
Women: most of the jewelry bought is bought by or for us. Let’s just STOP shopping at or accepting anything from this despicable enterprise until this lawsuit is resolved. It would be great if American women put this retailer out of business. Stop supporting our oppressors.
80
@Girl Of A Certain Age
I'm with you.
I've gotten to the point that I no longer see "shopping" as a benign activity. I know it keeps small business going and I support those...but the rest of it?
Sometimes it boggles my mind at how America is choking on stuff, the planet is drowning in plastic, and "shopping" is still tittered about like a simple pleasure, when in fact most of it is mindless consumerism.
Clothes. Jewelry. Most new purchases unnecessary and all available second hand.
Life is not available second-hand for the millions of people enslaved to this cycle, from the exploited poor who make our "stuff" to the planet when it joins the landfill.
9
This is an article that could have accomplished so much more in 1/8 the time. Long and drawn out, it did not do justice to the women featured. These women deserved a truly serious look at unfair, heinous corporate behavior and a disgracefully slow judicial process financed by corporate deep pockets and savvy money grabbing attorneys.
14
@CR Take a deep breath. The article is excellent: deeply researched, committed, passionate and affecting. It achieves what it sets out to do. By denigrating it, you denigrate the experience of the women who are victims of this toxic culture, which damaged hundreds and succeeded in avoiding the consequences for years.
67
I completely understand this woman's frustration, I myself have lived the same situation over and over again at my workplace, I have received promotions and later found out a man in the same position as I am is doing more and at the same time working less than me, last promotion I got I found out the guy before me was doing 20k more a year than what I do now, nor only I have to remain silent due to the fact that my bosses make me feel like I'm walking on eggshells every day (all men by the way) but I also have to wear up to 3 different hats at the facility I manage, most managers at this company are women, yet there is no such thing at equality, our sad reality...
18
I'm simultaneously horrified by this story and wowed by such excellent journalism. Thank you for this.
58
This is horrifying. Another company that needs to be cleaned out from top to bottom. It's also why men need to have the guts to stand up and defend women.
39
I applaud the NYT for investigative reporting like this. What it reveals is corporate corruption on a large scale but also the inability to gain justice in our society where individuals, especially women and people of color, are victimized. The use of arbitration that is so inherently unjust from the start is despicable, but so is a justice system that drags out cases of all kinds for years so that those who can afford it win by attrition, intimidation and financial squeezing. We say we are a country ruled by law, but too often the law is used as a weapon by those with power against those who have none.
People are routinely and systematically victimized with impunity, as we discover in stories like this one. Even without a corrupt man in the White House stacking the deck further against those who are powerless, our country and its justice system have failed for far too long to address these gross injustices at every level. If we are to be a truly civilized society built on moral values, social accountability and the rule of law, we must do so much better than this.
48
@TRJ -
Politicians' 'corruption' is not the issue here.
@NoNo Nanette Yes, it is an issue in this. If political leaders don't legislate against misconduct of this sort and they place in key positions in law enforcement or regulatory agencies people who will allow such misconduct to go unpunished, that is the kind of permissive and negligent approach that allows this behavior to continue.
5
That final graf, tho.
11
I found this article riveting, compelling and informative ... until I didn't because the author stopped reporting the facts and became an advocate. The positive support was always clear, but it became so strong that I couldn't consider it journalism. The last few paragraphs were downright confusing
12
Despite a brutal rape that resulted in barely any punishment for her victimizer, Danielle talked about what a fan she was of Brett Kavanaugh, the ultimate poster boy of her former colleagues at Sterling. Danielle, I believe you. And I believe Christine.
50
The Salk Institute. Sterling. If the NYT dug into companies and other organizations across the country, how many more stories of outright prejudice would they find? Or maybe more to the point, how many instances of equitable treatment of women would they find?
My wife is an MD with a strong clinical and academic career at a great institution. She is nearing retirement, so maybe her stories of getting jerked around by men, financially and otherwise, would be dismissed as news from the bad old days. If only it was so.
Anyway, we have a daughter who is in a PhD program in American History at one of the leading universities in the country. Her dissertation topic is the Men’s Rights Movement. I guess she has a strange sense of humor.
18
This is horrible. Even more shameful is the ease Sterling Co will repackage, relabel and rebrand if this article creates a boycott of all Sterling Brands and stores.
16
This is so awful and depressing. It makes me very angry that our so called legal system didn’t work for these women.
11
@Joan
It did work in a round about way. Their stock fell 76%, they were forced to close 150 stores, and they have yet to go back to their "Good boy days." And they probably won't - 'you can't go home again.'
I hope that, in the end, the women get a good monetary reward for bringing the company down, because they deserve it.
23
Jewelry is a corporate and societal scam perpetuated on women and men. Wise up people!!
25
I have never understood why anybody would want to pay thousands for a rock. Totally insane.
22
@johnj Read the story of the De Beers coup. Their slogan "A diamond lives forever" is what convinced us that a diamond was essential for true love. They created it in 1947 to get past the losses of the depression and they won big. It's quite amazing to think of the number of diamonds sold today based on the fantasy they concocted. It reminds me of the current absurd sales success that has convinced millions of girls and women to pay ridiculous prices for torn up, ratty denim pants.
14
Also, and not only with De Beers, good to remember the enormous pain and suffering involved in mining gems. Gems are exploitation, start to finish.
13
Thank you for this article.
Only by exposing the sexism, exploitation, harrassament and wage inequality in our culture will we have a chance to change it.
10
I am best friends with Michelle featured in this article. I worked for her for close to 9 years at Jared and left to work for Zales before they were bought out. Michelle was an excellent manager that out performed those around her. So many people that she mentored were promoted and have gone on to grow in the company. She was blindsided and devestated when Bill Mooney fired her while she was living in Chicago. I'm very proud of my friend for coming forward and telling her story. I know how she has agonized over doing it because she has felt that nothing will ever happen to Signet. I'm hopeful that more people will read this and never darken another Signet door. Just do your research because they own more chains than you would realize, like Piercing Pagoda.
77
@Aimee Was Mr. Mooney the manager who wrote her up 4 times, as referenced in the article? Did Mr. Mooney report to the regional vice president who was harassing Michelle?
@Aimee
I grew up with Michelle and worked with her for several years in the early 90's. She is and always has been a good person. This article is 100% accurate to what I witnessed. I was at the Fontainbleau for my first managers meeting and couldn't believe what I was witnessing. Watching people dancing on tables and the amount of people sleeping by the pool because their roommate was hooking up with someone in their room was amazing. The executives with all these female managers hanging all over them. It wasn't what I expected
Sterling had the ability to make all their employees feel like it was the only place to be with a work hard play hard mentality. They would call everyone their Sterling Family. I won trips to Hawaii and the the bonus money was incredible. I was in my early 20's with a family and no college education.
Finally after a few years I just couldn't stay there any longer after watching the executives force themselves on young 20 year old girls that were office workers sales associates. Working right by the headquarters they would frequent the stores always trying to get the young ladies to come out for drinks. Then the stories the next day would just blow my mind. Young women upset that this happened to them. They were young and looked up to these individuals and they took advantage of them.
Hopefully something can be done for all these individuals involved but I agree with Michelle.
17
Diamonds are not a girl’s best friend. If you support women’s right to work free of job discrimination and sexual harassment, do not dishonor your marriage commitment by buying this form of “conflict diamond” from one of these cynical companies that don’t respect personal boundaries.
30
@Joel Stegner
You are so right in your description of it. 100%
2
The only part of this that I found surprising is that - even in the midst of all of this - the women have the benefit of reflection don't actually wish they could have changed anything; nor do they have empathy for others who have gone through similar conditions. That Danielle, the woman who was raped doesn't believe Christine Blasey Ford? And loves Kavanaugh? That Michelle who slept with the CEO-to-be to get ahead looks back on those days fondly? It almost is enough to justify victim blaming. Maybe it's Stockholm syndrome. Maybe it's about self-justification after the fact. But if these folks aren't going to recognize the damage this culture does to women - then how can we change it?
29
@Anon
But this is how people's lives are. The fun and good times are mixed with the awful. We can't ask people to artificially forget, disown, and condemn the good times on a broad level because they were mixed with the bad. That wouldn't be honest.
Danielle gave her reason for disbelieving Blasey-Ford. I may disagree, but her argument is not unsound and is based on her experience.
2
Glad to see this repulsive chain of stores exposed for the gross operation it has always been-nobody needs the junk they sell and the fact that men have been bullied into buying it for so long is a true triumph of marketing.
On a different note I guess I’m in the minority but every time Taffy Brodesser-Akner writes a story I always feel like I can “hear” her writing. There’s nothing wrong with breaking some of the more stringent rules of our profession but for chissake this writer puts herself into the story so much it’s not only distracting and not only makes the story hard to get through — but her stylized prose detracts from this otherwise very important topic.
I would’ve much preferred to have seen this piece as straight reporting rather than a first person me me me.
23
@NoScreenname
I completely agree. The writer, T B-A, dilutes the story with the insertions of her own experiences or personal take. Her piece on Gwyneth Paltrow was painful to read due to her own self loathing she described. Stick to the story, leave out your personal details, please.
4
Of course I’ve always seen these stores at malls and even walked through them a few times. I’ve seen the silly TV ads as well. But, I never bought anything from them (thank god for that) and now I certainly never will. Luckily, they can’t compete with small-scale artisans who sell their wares online, so that’s a very easy choice to make.
The lesson here is to pay attention to the real story behind what you’re buying. Americans were sold a lie by these jewelers. They told people this was the way to make women feel loved, while mistreating women behind the scenes. And I doubt very much that this is the only exploitative, sexist company we see and buy stuff from every day. Being aware of the moral implications of your purchase does matter. Chances are, you’ll be happier and healthier buying products that come from wholesome, sustainable, and fair businesses anyway.
19
So sad. Great reporting about an utterly unethical company. I hope all the male executives at this company are reading this.
12
Thank you Taffy Brodesser-Akner for writing a terrific piece of investigative reportage in which you reveal the unequal pay, harassment and sexual assault of women. You present the constraints on your research and the absence of response to queries on the part of some of those involved. You portray your own feelings in the context hearing so many disturbing stories and ask why women's socially positive attributes are turned against them.
Perhaps now you should turn your attention to what goes on in academia.
13
Taffy Brodesser-Akner, you are an exquisite writer and this story made me shudder.
16
"Binding arbitration" is referenced by the NYT several times in this article. I wish the NYT would do a column on the evolution of this practice through which a great power differential allows a corporation or an employer to force an individual into signing away their legal rights. Today the arbitrators are not neutral; they are corporate contractors, and the process seems now to a weaponized procedure that is wielded to serve the interests of the wealthy and powerful at the expense of citizens and consumers.
50
This beautifully written article should make us angry that institutionalized discrimination and sexual harassment still flourishes in America. It should serve as a reminder to us all that we are at choice when it comes to where to shop, and we can use our dollars to support and affirm companies and employers that promote equality, equity and fairness.
31
Boycott. Every one of these women deserves back pay with interest, even the women excluded from the class lawsuit. Again. Boycott.
39
Doesn't seem like the women in this story received much justice. But the one thing they have is you telling the world about the injustices they suffered.
21
It's retail, baby.
I spent many years working for both large chains and small mom & pops, and with very few exceptions, this is how it is. You're working in an 'at will' position. Human Resources is not there for the humans -- it's there for the corporation. Unless you are willing to - and can - drop keys and walk, you will at some point be subject to some sort of abuse.
Something you can't get caught talking about on the clock? Unions.
I wonder why?
41
This was a hard and painful article to read. At times, I could only skim the words. I hope a huge award puts Sterling out of business but not before they pay out to these strong women who are facing them down.
23
Won't be shopping at these stores.
21
Online stores are killing Zales, Jareds etc. My son was looking for rings and I looked up Jared's complaints, there were 1000s of people who wrote online how much of a ripoff Jared's merchandise was. Your best course of action when buying diamonds and CS's is to READ. Buying online is the only way to get a good or fair deal. As to Sterling, the old boy network slowly fades but as women, we have been hurt by these terrible owners and men. Hoping better for the future of women in sales.
8
Thank you for the excellent reporting. But my God how disheartening this is. I thought we won these battles in the 70s but the pervasive mistreatment simply morphs and reemerges. I see many men joining on the comments to express their disgust but I implore you to do more; stand up for yourself and your colleagues by challenging these jerks when you see the behavior. It may not be your responsibility, but you'll be able to hold your head up and look us in the eye.
19
Wow. The idea that you walk into one of these places and they know how to "hook" people make a you realize all the other ways we find ourselves hooked. Like sheep to the slaughter. Its an art form parting people with their money. The decades this happened is telling yet no less disgusting.
14
Besides all other labor considerations about corporate immorality, "Every kiss begins with Kay", or "He went to Jared" are so sexist and so promoting of the selling of "affection" or "love" from women to men that is it is obscene. Let´s be frank, it is a akin to something worse, how can something, the slogans, so dirty, could have prospered? I think it is time for women to buy jewelry for men also or let´s forget about the whole thing. Do you need a diamond to consider the loving of a man?
18
The last few paragraphs make it sound like after the rampant harassment stopped, so did the company's growth.
Was this deliberate? Is there truth to this? If so, did growth allow the company to hide the harassment? Or was the broken culture in some way contributing to growth?
Either way, great job Taffy Brodesser-Akner.
6
The best way to let Sterling brands know how you feel is with your wallet. Do the same with whatever shop name they may rebrand themselves to in the future. Shameless.
14
I’d like to hear some quotes from the supposedly decent men who stood by and said nothing about this behavior by their fellow dudes. If you are silent, you are complicit.
23
A dynamic piece of investigative reporting. Thanks
7
"The wage gap" does not exist, taking a sample of 12 people proves nothing. However sexual molestation and even rape can occur. If you want me to use "sexual harassment" then you'd see the cases of men against women even out.
2
This is a story about a soul stealing jewelry company. These women started off so proud of their work and yet, they were human toys to so many men who worked there including the CEO at the time of this deplorable degrading company.
I've never walked into any of these stores but the inhumanity of those male and female employee/managers who were taking advantage of the women is sickening.
I hope the lawsuits benefit those who were harmed by Sterling but the years that it's taken already makes one wonder where's the justice?
This was first class reporting from Ms. Brodesser-Anker.
17
I really enjoyed this and wish for more longform journalism.
14
Who are these men??? I've never known men like this, or if I have, I didn't know it. It's horrifying.
6
We often hear this from those who are close to men “like this”. Often they ARE different at home, or in their communities. Because sexual harassment isn’t about sex—it’s about power and the ability to oppress and control those who have less or are sadly perceived as being less.
3
This essay deserves a Pulitzer. It is a damning picture of American misogyny at work.
As for jewelry itself? My now-husband knew early on that I didn’t want an engagement ring. Crass materialism as an expression of love? Nope. Nor did I want to implicate myself in the crimes against humanity that happen in African and other mines. He bought me something I’d always wanted (a professional-level musical instrument) instead. We call it my “engagement oboe.”
I wore my great-grandmother’s vintage rings until they were stolen from me (by two women).
Now I have a gold wedding band from Tiffany’s, which at least makes an effort to source its materials ethically.
23
@Mathilda
I love it - 'engagement oboe.'
Sorry about your grandmother's rings.
1
Dear God, what a nightmare. Thank you for a well written story on a revolting subject. I feel like I need a shower.
I love nice jewelry and own many beautiful pieces, but my hubby has never been "marketed" into buying me anything. Every piece I own came from a private, family-owned store, and always will.
I have two sons and you can bet they'll never buy from a Sterling store, either.
I suppose it doesn't help the lawsuit to boycott Sterling, but Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt once said "I will not sue you, for the law is too slow. I will ruin you instead". Bring the ruin.
32
This article made me sad all day long - the hypocrisy of being an industry that tries makes women feel special, worthy, and valued.
All while treating the women who worked there exactly the opposite.
The message: Women need expensive jewelry for a man to show them what they are worth to them.
The biggest lie of all - I have lost respect for the jewelry industry altogether and will plan from now on only to purchase from independent artists who craft their own jewelry as single source creators, distributors, and designers.
I hope all of these industries- food, entertainment, jewelry, tech, politics, and corporate America heed the wake up call that is finally befalling them.
21
Yep ,,,,the greatest action is to only buy from artisans or their own stores
8
My first job after college was at a small weekly newspaper. I had been working there for six months when I found out that I was being paid $.50 an hour than the last person in the job, a man. I went to the publisher and demanded that the discrepancy be corrected and applied retroactively.
In the end, I "won" the retroactive pay. But what hurts the most is that I cried in front of those men out of fury and bitter disappointment that yes, I would have to deal with sex discrimination, even in the late 2000s. I hate those men for seeing me cry even more than I hate them for paying me less just because I'm a woman.
19
Women need to start to value things beyond looking pretty which I know is rude to say but hear me out. We are bombarded by women trying to be sexy every second. The value of women in America is still tied to this. The average woman would rather be pretty than smart, it’s not politically correct but a fact. I work primarily with women, all they talk about is clothing, make-up, and finding the best guys. The men I work with talk about work. Let the hating begin but I’m speaking the truth.
11
@David
I wonder what field you're in that this is so.
Where I work - probably even number of men and women - this is not the case.
1
I just don’t get it. I run a successful small business and my employees are paid based on performance and experience. It’s always important to be fair because there are no secrets in a small business. If employees discover a payroll discrepancy it kills morale and leaves you open to a lawsuit. And yet you hear these stories of payroll bias all the time. Sexism and prejudice are learned. We’re not born that way.
17
I was always puzzled by the blatant sexism of the thunderstorm commercial. Can't say I'm surprised by any of this.
8
@Anne, me neither. That ad was straight from the 1950s, and for Kay to think they could get away with it speaks volumes about the parent company’s sexist culture.
3
@Deering24 my dog jumps into my arms during tstorms, and loves me without being showered with diamonds.
4
@Donia, indeed. Talk or sing to my parrots, and they’ll get through storms just fine. :)
“... its very own hospice for personnel issues.”
Excellent description of a shameless process in too many organizations, the outcome of which nearly always involves killing the messenger.
Thank you for outstanding, brave reporting. So grateful for the people who spoke up, while grieving for their ongoing ordeals.
15
The abuses Taffy Brodesser-Akner exposes are reason enough to eschew jewelry from Sterling, however, if you need another reason, please consider the human rights record of the diamond mining industry. Personally, I'd rather Congolese miners keep their lives and limbs than invest in such a deeply unnecessary indulgence. My hope is that this terrible industry will be another one millennials "ruin."
20
I always thought Kay, Zales and Jared were the height of tackiness and never bought a thing from them. Nor has my husband as far as my gift boxes have shown. Let their ship sink. I hope they lose and the women get something of what they’re owed.
21
That’s where the middle class shop and the numbers are BIG.
4
The jewelry business is made to RIP OFF the customers. Those salesmen make $10-$13 or $14/hour off a million in sales? Or more? I laid away a 1 carat diamond for my wife. EVERY TIME I went and dropped money on it, someone was getting something appraised, and usually, it was "You didn't buy that here, because you got ripped off....". How do I know I didn't get ripped off? I don't want to know. Ask me about carbide tooling, I can tell you about it. Ask me about diamonds? Would you like fires with that? $20,000 per year on a million in sales? That's not a job.
12
This article is giving me flashbacks of one of my first jobs after college. Well done piece.
15
Symptomatic of the state of corporate America. When corporations’ sole focus is on shareholders, everyone else is thrash to be exploited.
10
You need to believe that this, also, goes on in every small business to larger regional ones. Disgusting, but very true.
I worked at what was one of a chain of family owned stores in the Midwest. Same issues with salaries, comments and behavior from male coworkers. It went on in competitors businesses, too.
All of this is rampant across the US. If anyone doesn't think so, you haven't talked to enough women in enough businesses. For all of the laws we have it hasn't made much of a difference as evidenced by the years this lawsuit has taken and the hoops the legal team has had to jump through.
18
In the 1980s' and 1990s' I worked in the stock brokerage industry for several firms including Everen Securites, the Kemper Securities spin-off. It is now owned by Wachovia. I was one of two women managers out of 750 positions. I was in the Century City, CA office and the other was in Pueblo, Colorado. Even today, only 9% of brokerage managers are women. The amount of discrimination I faced was truly unbelievable. The CEO at the time told me that finding women who were qualified for the job was nearly impossible. Brokers would make sexist comments regarding my personal appearance including a prior manager who noted that seeing my legs while I was on a ladder putting boxes away was the highlight of his day (wink, wink). One fellow even invited me into his office to feel his muscular thigh (I didn't). My salary was far less than the previous manager earned. I was held personally responsible when a broker's "love line" was not answered when I took his assistant out to lunch. The list goes on and on. There were, by the way, no female brokers. When I left the position I arbitrated and won $75,000 from the firm for their mistreatment. The attorney I hired suggested that we should have made the case into a class-action suit. I was replaced by a male who did not even have a manager's license. His first act was to put a photo of a snarling dog in his office window - the women in the office were on notice. The jewelry business is not alone in the discrimination race.
24
It seems that women are continuing to demand 'equal treatment'. Yet, isn't it interesting that so many of these women wanted to be a part of a business where a big portion of sales are of 'engagement rings'.... rings that profit off the backs of miners in Africa....rings that are essentially used by a man to 'prove' his worth to a woman...to prove how much he 'values' her. Yet these women see nothing wrong with any of that. In fact, they think it's 'wonderful' that as an employee at such a store, they may be a part of a jubilant, recently 'betrothed' woman's engagement story....
This article features women (the author herself included) who have hyphenated last names, and ....unless they are from Spain (where such naming is conventional), typically indicates a woman who is married, and wants the rest of the world to know this (by way of her hyphenated name) but who at the same time wants to come across as a (moderate) feminist (again, by way of her hyphenated name). She's not going to give up her family name entirely in order to take her husband's name, but at the same time, she's not enough of a feminist to keep her name just as it is. Plus, by doing so, then she can't 'announce' to the rest of the world that she's married.
I find it supremely interesting how many supposed strong American women continue to change their names, either completely, or partially, upon becoming married, while men typically do none of this.
11
@Lisa
I have been surprised which of my friends changed their names, and which did not.
Sometimes, though, their motivation has to do with having the same last name as their children.
Congratulations, Taffy Brodesser-Akner. Well done!
8
This is a great piece of reporting. However, despite the journalistic interest of telling both sides of a story and avoiding bias, it just does not sit well with me reading about the contextualization of truly awful sexual abuse and harassment described within. E.g. the perks about working for this company, or why many women chose to stay with the company through episodes of blatant sexual abuse. It’s not worthless information. But including it suggests that it makes any bit of difference about the severity of what management at this company believes about professional treatment of women in the workplace.
This well written article detailed episodes of sexual coercion for a transfer, rape of a sleeping woman in her hotel room, locking a woman in a hotel bathroom, and a slew of other sexual conquests and episodes of groping and extremely inappropriate comments and attitudes. Not to mention the $3/hr pay discrepancy between male and female employees.
I’m sorry, but “they were boss of the mall” and “the company offered sales incentives” diminishes just how egregious the behavior of this company’s management actually is. I don’t know how anyone can justify spending money with this company if they are aware of this suit.
11
I have never understood why anyone would want the mass produced jewelry these stores provide.
12
After reading this, one thing is sure for me. I wouldn’t buy anything from this chain of stores. Period.
16
Women never have to buy jewelry from predatory men in a store. There are art sales which include finely made jewelry. Some colleges specializing in fine arts also have sales.
There are many of us jewelry lovers who have learned to make our own: from simple strung necklaces all the way to pieces with hinged clasps and handmade chains. The choice of material is enormous.
I've been making jewelry for several years. It's very gratifying to see a piece you made give delight to another person.
After reading this article, I'd never enter a jewelry store again. And, I don't have to! Try it: simple and inexpensive at first, then move on to more difficult and expensive pieces.
At least, give artisan-made jewelry a look.
9
If Sterling had to pay men more per hour to do the same job, why did they hire any men at all?
If equally qualified and productive women were available at a lower wage, but men were hired instead at high wages, haven't the shareholders been victimized by management?
7
@Philip Greenspun
If only workplace discrimination were about the bottom line, most men would be unemployed. However, the other feature of workplace discrimination is the belief that men are inherently better managers and leaders.
7
Excellent reporting and writing. These types of articles make the NYT subscription worth every cent and more.
19
It's difficult to sympathize with Dawn when "she's a big fan" of a Supreme Court Justice who will cast a vote to uphold the Federal Arbitration Act, weaken existing federal employment laws that prohibit sex discrimination and harassment, and limit class actions.
I'm glad Ms. Brodesser-Akner included Dawn's support of Justice Kavanaugh in the article. In articles about GOP supporters who have been negatively affected by its policies, laws, and judges, journalists need to ask and include in articles whether they would vote for the GOP in 2020.
19
I have never bought jewelry at any of these stores and now I never will.
2
Congratulations on this well researched article. I'm glad this culture is getting exposed to the world of jewelry consumers. What a horror for the hard working women you profiled. I'm glad the company is failing. In society today there's no need to shop at stores that institutionalise harassment. I hope the claimants find peace.
7
If Stephen Moore does not get nominated to the Federal Reserve, it appears he can easily qualify for employment as an executive with Sterling.
13
Tremendously well written article by one of my favorite reporters.
I always felt that Zales, Jareds, and Kay's were less than special jewelry stores for people who went for the convenience of malls and the commercials on TV.
I never realized their atrocious behavior and culture until today, but I'm grateful I never gave them a dime.
14
Before soaking in the pay discrepancies and the analysis that says men were paid forty cents an hour more than men, let the following sink in. The better paid women seemed to be earning roughly thirteen bucks an hour. Five hundred twenty bucks a week based on forty hours, not the thirty quoted in the article. That's 26 grand a year before taxes for a top saleswomen perhaps moving over a million dollars worth of Sterling products a year.
The managers don't seem to earn much more but I had a hard time keeping track between them and the salespeople. Maybe those above store manager, like the district managers, made a bit more.
The men were paid a bit more? The women in the lawsuit deserve compensation, which given the numbers of females involved could very likely bankrupt Sterling. Good riddance, they're probably trying to get out of thousands of mall leases because yes they're dying. The thriving upscale malls today don't really cater to the Jared's crowd. But it seems all the hired help were underpaid so the executives and shareholders could hoard all the profits to themselves.
So this great reporting isn't just about sexism, but about our exploitative capitalistic system. Just like unequal wages always hint to deeper problems in a corporate culture's treatment of women, they and other groups will always be the first to suffer under such companies that exploit all their hourly workers.
12
Excellent journalism. Glad to hear the company is suffering and the stock is in the tank. No mall jewelry for this family.
9
And then there are the blood diamonds. I’ve never been attracted to these stores and their jewelry.
4
I wonder to what extent making the senior employees in stores be male was a deliberate policy to create an environment that appealed to the largely male clients? Beautiful women to wait upon them, who were ultimately kept in control by a senior male thus assuring the clients that even if women were giving them advice all was right with the world because men were really in charge?
9
Great article. But... Corporate culture is rarely this one-sided. I’ve spent decades watching men and women misbehave in the corporate world. It takes two hands to clap; I’ve seen plenty of women intentionally sleep their way up the food chain. I’m not discrediting anything written here, but from experience – the truth is usually a lot more complex.
6
@M
It seems to discuss this. Michelle - who slept with the CEO to be - did so to avoid sleeping with others and to work her way up. Another woman slept with the manager for a transfer. Even the woman who was raped acknowledges she let the guy in and sleep in her bed; and defends Kavanaugh and doesn't believe Christine Blasey-Ford. It seems apparent that many of these women were willing participants - at least until they realized they had been cheated money.
6
Once upon a time, Sterling Corporate was a client I resigned. There wasn't anything about the way the company treated consultants that was decent or transparent. Every situation I was involved with wasn't conducted by the company as it should have been. The few decent souls I interacted with left as soon as they became aware of the prevalence of the situations described here. Many of the same guilty corporate Good Old Boys are still there. You've quoted one of them. Akron-based corporate executives knew exactly what was going on at the store level. It was common knowledge.
25
Let me start by saying what an amazing article/novella this is. I read this story very early this morning. It has stuck with me. The treatment of these women was beyond appalling and atrocious. I commend these women for having the tenacity to hang in there. I’m not much of a jewelry wearer but I will work towards steering friends and family away from the Sterling properties. Good luck to the women and men with the case. Congratulations again on a job well done by the this reporter.
37
Thank you for the in-depth coverage - this article was so informative. As depressing as it is, I do think that things are changing. Today more women than ever are buying their own jewelry - and that will definitely change the dynamic. I hope as they buy their own jewelry they will be mindful of where they are buying it from and who they are supporting. Buying your own jewelry has a different connotation than a man buying you jewelry.
It's interesting to see how many of the malls are closing and many of the older chains are closing - which is a good thing. Hopefully, with these closures new fairer and more transparent businesses will be created. We all deserve that.
18
This is not really a new story. The Washington Post broke it about three years ago or so.
There are so many reasons why I prefer to support local independent jewelers, such as quality of craftsmanship, knowledgeable staff (who weren’t hired from Men’s Wearhouse), trust between staff and customer, and unique artisan designs. This whole fiasco just gave me one more reason.
35
@Magpie Upon reading more closely, I see that the WaPo pieces were indeed cited here. Whoops.
2
This is the same story that keeps on happening in all parts of the world. Women have every right to get equal pay for equal work and equal promotion for equal qualification.
Whenever it happens, then only we can say that we are in the twenty first century.
25
The final paragraph is exquisite and maddeningly accurate.
Thank you, NY Times, for this eye-opening and well-researched article.
29
Second hand jewelry is plentiful, well-priced and just as nice, and maybe even nicer if it’s older and thus better made. Or shop new locally and/or buy from artisans.
39
I worked in the Florida timeshare industry for several years. The successful timeshare sales pros make well into the six figures, in some cases reaching the mid six figures, and about half of those were and are women. It's hard to imagine timeshare saleswomen being paid a cent less than a man with equal performance. And if anyone tried shortchanging them, they would regret it!
9
I worked a lot of temp jobs in the 90s and was frequently assigned to help clear out files in HR. The bigger the company, the more pay discrimination I saw. Time and again (and I looked carefully because I was curious and I wanted to understand what I was seeing) I saw women with equal credentials and nothing but positive job reviews earning much less than their male counterparts, as well as those with fewer credentials. That's why to this day I'm upfront about my salary: 'sunshine is the best' etc. etc.
48
@Mrs. McGillicutty I always say if you don't like your job get another one. If you do not like your pay get a different job. No one is forcing you to work at any one place. Male workers are more dependable, don't take non-vacation time off, and have a need to work and keep food on the table and roof overhead.
1
@Eddy Robert In this market, some people are lucky to have any job at all. Beggars can’t be choosers.
5
Fact 1: Women need to put food on the table, too
Fact 2: Women even need a roof over their heads
Fact 3: Women remain primary caretakers of sick kids, elderly parents, and the like.
Fact 4: There are women who have a child and miss work or less often, leave a job.
Fact 5: Men and women can share the benefits and the pains of propagating the human race, and, caregiving.
Fact 6: It’s 2019: enough
already!
17
Forced arbitration should be illegal. No company should be able to prevent employees from bringing crimes to court publicly. Ironically, if Sterling has permitted public lawsuits from the start, they probably wouldn't be in the position today of defending itself against a class action lawsuit that includes 70,000 people. Not to mention the business they have lost and will continue to lose (I will make it a point to never shop at one of their stores).
Further, there need to be forums where women (and others) can report on their experiences working at companies without the threat of a lawsuit. The forced secrecy prevents identifying patterns of illegal behavior. So many people never take action because they think they are the only one.
78
Maybe someone should organize an anonymous company-by-company forum exactly for that purpose. Strength in numbers. It’s really difficult to take class action if rampant discrimination and harassment isn’t known to a given individual at a company who has experienced it.
1
@Kate On the other hand, the lack of communication between plaintiffs ensures that they did not influence each other’s statements, making them easier to verify in court.
3
@Ryan Swanzey
Unfortunately, company specific forums rarely disguise the individuals who make specific complaints, even when made anonymously. Also, forums and discussion groups are invariably infiltrated by a company loyalist.
Back in the mid-1970's I briefly worked for Helzburg's Jewelers in a Mall in Iowa. I do not know whether Helzburg's subsequently became part Sterling. The lingering memory is that one morning I flipped through the HR manual. It said that managers were to be married men, preferably with children. Women were supposed to be attractive, preferably single, etc. etc. I spoke with the manager about what I had seen. He did not see anything wrong with the HR policies. It was a horrible workplace environment. Did Helzburg's become part of Sterling? From the tone of this article it did and they adopted the workplace standards of their acquisition. If you need wonderful jewelry, seek out an independent metal worker/jeweler.
41
Helzburg’s was sold to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway in 95.
4
While unfortunate for the workers involved, the article accurately portrays how business operates all across the U.S. Substitute the name of any business when Sterling is mentioned and the balance of the article will describe the work culture at that company. Low pay and lack of workplace recognition for providing exceptional service or product,social demands, excessive work hours, and unlimited loyalty to the employer regardless of working conditions are what is in demand in today's corporate culture. What is sorely needed, but will not happen is intense oversight and regulation of all businesses. Only then will the playing field be balanced.
57
I'm shocked -- again, but not surprised. It is an all too familiar story, one I experienced and both my daughters to a lesser degree. Different corporations, different decades, and none of us stayed in corporate America as a result. It turned out to be their loss as not only were we three exceptionally hard working individuals, but also became each ended up in leadership roles in the work we chose.
One would have thought that over 50 years, the men running most of corporate America would have learned much more than they have. Did none of them ever consider what skills and abilities they so casually threw away, forced out, or simply lost due to their behavior? I guess not, and based on what i still hear occasionally, far too many workplaces have not changed.
56
Oh, they’ve learned...how to keep women subservient; they know exactly what they’re doing and don’t plan to change.
7
“Did none of them ever consider what skills and abilities they so casually threw away, forced out, or simply lost due to their behavior?”
Like they care. So long as they were getting theirs, they didn’t give a hoot about what was good for the workers, company, or anything outside their personal bottom line.
4
There's a wider issue in that this culture is pervasive across all sales organizations, not just in the jewelry industry. Sterling is a telling example, but, unfortunately, not unique.
38
Congratulations, this is exemplary writing and reporting. Not that I'm much of a Jewelry wearer, or buyer, but this is important information for those that are. The Women are to be commended for their integrity, dignity and tenacity. My sincere best wishes.
75
Well written. Captivating, if such a telling can be.
The base income, for men - much less women - for what must be around 2005 is amazing. Cleaners working at South Florida's two large airports were earning $13.00 an hour (no insurance) in 2006. True, there were no bonuses for those cleaners, but they were protected by strongly enforced law from abuse.
I have purchased jewelry and fine watches for over 30 years, but never from any of the name brand stores in the article. Never ever felt comfortable about even contemplating purchasing from a "Zale" or a "Jared" and the concept of "chocolate diamonds" made me laugh.
53
First if people both men and women do not like the job they can quit.
As long as the employer respects all employees and provides a safe working environment that employer who takes not just the profits but also the losses has the right to put who he wants where as a business profit decision.No one has the right to an interview, the management should be able to put who they think will do the best job where they decide.
If their decision is wrong and the selected person does not meet expectations, then they take the financial loss.
When you take a job and accept the salary and benefits it does not come with the right to decide what promotion you get.
Employees now feel in this entitlement society they are entitled to jobs and promotions.
This also sounds a little made up. It appears she did not even know when working for Jared that they were not authorized Rolex dealers, and only sold used Rolex's. Their web site confirms this.
Maybe not knowing the product line is a reason she was not promoted.
4
@annoyed, you read this piece, I assume, and yet you state that you believe believe Sterling "respects all employees" and "provides a safe working environment" for the women employed there. Are you serious?
Was it a "safe working environment" for the women who were raped at Sterling managers' meetings?
Were women "respected" by Sterling? Women were paid substantially less than men, even when their sales performance was better and even when they had more experience than the men -- were these women "respected" by Sterling?
Also: The article does NOT state that Dawn believed she was selling NEW Rolexes, just that she was excited to have the opportunity to sell Rolexes. Jared's DOES sell used Rolexes, so the article, and its representation of Dawn's excitement to sell Rolexes, is accurate.
Why are you so invested in disrespecting the author's and the interviewees' expertise? Hmmm, I wonder what that could be all about?
21
Maybe you missed the part (i.e., the entire article) where it said the employer did not respect all employees or create a healthy environment. You are really grasping at straws.
13
Your comment speaks volumes about why the kind of workplace culture described in this article exists. I wouldn’t want to work for you or with you.
19
Excellent piece. Such an article does, in my opinion, a much better job explaining what women have to go through in their daily lives, in this case their workplaces, than a hashtag, cause célebres and social media rants.
This brings it down to the personal level and puts faces and names behind the statistics and studies. Great job.
60
This is a beautifully written article. Couldn't stop reading but felt like I was in slow motion watching a train wreck.
Thank God print journalism isn't dead. You can't get this in- depth reporting from a few soundbites, tweets or streams.
I have many pieces of jewelry my husband purchased, with the protection plan I might add, from Kay's, Zales, and J.B. Robinson. I'm showing this article to him tonight and we will no longer patronize any chain jewelry store for the rest of our lives. Don't know if I'll ever be able to wear the jewelry again without a feeling a melancholy.
121
This is very impressive reporting. In an age of forced arbitration and secrecy agreements, bringing this to light is a public service. Thank God for newspapers!
109
Beautifully told tale. I appreciate the way this is written showing both the highs and the lows of working for this culture. How insidious it can be and that the women were, at least for a time, swept along. But the injustice builds in your soul until the good old boy culture reveals itself as something base and corrosive - no longer to be tolerated. Empathy and anger, that is what I am left with. Thank you to all brave enough to tell your tale.
48
What in the world does this line mean?
“There is a precise algorithm that lives in the heart of every woman, one that alerts her when the injustice she is experiencing outweighs the joy.”
I by no means want to undermine the amazing work these women are doing, but that line rubbed me the wrong way. As if joy and injustice are opposites to be balanced. I’m not sure that’s the case.
24
@Hermione Granger I took that to mean she knows when enough is enough and she must fight for what's right.
3
@Hermione Granger
Simply, when the bad outweighs the good.
3
@Hermione Granger I too put the breaks on at that exact same spot (although I read on thru the end of this fascinating article)...I turned to my husband (sharing my laptop and reading along side and remarked gee whiz I don't think I have a precise algorithm living in my heart...but one pinch and I would most certainly have had one lecherous manager (you-know-where) on the end of my pointy-toed pump.
I'm hoping a lot of these corporate events were secretly recorded. The magnitude is truly disturbing. As much as I lament the death of retail, who wants to add to the coffers of these corporations?
28
This is a searing essay. You know these things are continually happening in business and retail, but to hear these women's stories...It's harrowing. The article was masterfully written, and I'd like to thank Ms. Brodesser-Anker for giving this subject two years of her life. One thing I can guarantee: my wife and I are committed to never darkening the door of a Sterling property for the rest of our lives. We wish the lawsuit class the best possible outcome.
194
Wow, mass emotional abuse. Never thought of that. :-O
16
Boycott all Sterling Family of Jewelers:
The Sterling Family of Jewelers. Signet Jewelers Limited is the largest specialty jewelry retailer in the US, UK and Canada. Signet operates approximately 3,600 stores primarily under the name brands of Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry, H.Samuel, Ernest Jones, Peoples and Piercing Pagoda.
150
Blood Diamonds indeed
The blood, sweat and tears of our fellow Americans.
60
@Dro
Primarily, those of the poor brown people far away who labor to dig up shiny things for lucky people to shop for.
Over the years I would purchase jewelry from individual artisans and craftspeople at art shows. I would get to know the person making the jewelry I was going to wear.
Yes, Sterlings is to make money, but, to make it uncomfortable and brutal is another. I have never stepped foot in a Sterling before and I will not now.
Roxanne Henkle
Spazhouse, Intuitive Research
49
Where's a wildly successful sales company that doesn't operate like this? Love to see that. Surely you can keep the best parts of the 'good ole boy/girl' world without the toxicity? Because bonding is key for all sales companies. Just not THIS bonding.
9
The worst part of such experiences is realizing, finally, that you have allowed someone to manipulate you into a self-abasing persona of abject servitude. You begin to loathe yourself for what someone else has done. When what you have really done was to trust another person.
I applaud the extraordinary courage of these women to come through this.
69
@DiR Very eloquent.
3
“Diamonds are Forever.” Yeah, seemingly just like misogyny.
117
Agreed! Susan. You’re statement just became a meme :)
2
And seemingly just like this suit.
2
Thank you for this wonderful article. The problem is this still happens all the time. My cousin who is a gorgeous 30 year old worked a few years ago as an assistant manager for Sherman Williams. She was sexually harassed by the manager who kept trying to get her to sleep with him. She quit. Now going to school to become a vet she worked in a hospital where the owner also made lewd comments to her. She told me she felt unsafe but was afraid to say anything because it was an internship and she needed the paperwork signed off by him. We are talking last year 2018. As soon as her internship finished he tried to get her to sign up for more hours. She ran out of there as fast as she could.
92
She should also lodge a complaint with your state's department of labor, so she can help others who might find themselves in the same position.
7
Wow, that is some impressive reporting and writing. I'm so sorry that it needed to be done. And I hope for justice for the legions of women abused by that corporate culture and the men who fostered it.
57
Boycott - these stores were always in the ripoff business-go to the wholesale jewelry exchanges and deal with people recommended by well informed friends.
34
@hazel18 Places like the Diamond Exchange are a ripoff too. One of the dead giveaways is their use of the tagline “GIA certified diamonds.” The Gemological Institute of America makes a point of noting that it does not certify individual stones.
2
I wonder how many brides-to be, mothers, grandmothers are looking at their hands and necks as well as into their jewelry boxes and seeing much of the luster turn to the taint of decay.
I will never patronize any of these establishments, and personally if I owned any of this company's products, I would no longer want to keep those goods under my roof.
Respect to the stupendous talent of Taffy Brodesser-Akner in reporting this criminal litany and all honor to the women who "told" and made it possible for others to "tell" as well.
Generations of daughters to come will be both blessed and armed with wisdom and knowledge from this article that can never be taken away from them- unlike a chain or ring that gets snatched on the subway.
69
Beautifully written, and a heartbreaking story. I hope these women know they are not alone.
53
A well-written article that showcases horrid behavior. I think we need to evaluate NDAs. While they are useful (trade secrets, government intel, etc), anyone can see the power imbalance that resolves from an NDA with discrimination and sexual harassment.
55
One of the first things I look at when I see couples is the rings. Usually, the more expensive the rings, the worse the relationship. For some reason, the best ones I keep seeing are the simpler ones.
I’ve grown older these days, but when I was a teen, I too might have bought one of these expensive rings. I used to be friends with a guy, a former schoolmate who told me he went into debt to buy one of these expensive ones for the wife. They’re not together anymore last I heard. They couldn’t stand each other when I saw them, couldn’t figure out why a smart person would go to one of these stores to buy these rings. But, I understand. Sometimes the madness just hits one. I don’t know what became of the expensive ring when their marriage ended, i know he went into one of those stores each month to make a payment, which when I discovered it astounded me! I hadn’t realized people went into credit for those rings! But it does make sense, people service their jewelry, especially more pricey things like expensive watches. Although, to me it seems to make more sense for a watch that tells me time and that I can dive with, than a stone for another person. Anyway, i recall as a teen I might have spent that much if I had it. Now, I can’t believe people fall for those ads, but I understand. Now, I think of all the alternative things I might do with the money, especially travel. If I like somebody that much, I’d suggest we travel for as long as the money allows!!!!
18
Had an interview with the company some years ago with some regional manager who was an aspiring bit player on "Mad Men". I got the sense that Sterling was this very strange, privately-held cult of glamour of sorts, which a gleaming facade and an ugly heart. The pay they offered was horrendous. Glad I passed on the position.
61
Capitalism, a love story.
26
Just appalling, disturbing and vividly well reported. That these predatory employers still exist after such stomach churning crimes is surprising at best. I will avoid their brick and mortar presence, as well as their online portals, though my jewelry purchasing power is nil.
It appears that Karma, on the other hand, is already taking care of the rest.
25
i've always despised those ads and the fake romance that goes with them. i have never wanted a diamond of any kind, and have known for years that diamonds aren't rare, and the conditions they are mined under are bad enough, but the way they are sold as product is almost as bad. i didn't know about his corporate culture but i'm not surprised... i never understood how women can cooperate in their own diminishment and bad and mocking treatment. if you feel the job and the money are more important than your self respect or your treatment, then you are accepting it, and your complaints sound more like whining. sales is a terrible job to begin with because you're pushing an unnecessary product onto someone who is too weak to resist.
19
Oh my. What a heart rendering story. Sadly, this is neither unique nor eradicated. In my experience, it thrives in sales cultures where you are only as good as your monthly numbers, and the "reward" is an alcohol fueled annual meeting where winners are glorified for their ability to snooker their marks, and losers are shown to be less than worthwhile. Where managers can be sexual predators and indulged. It is sickening. I fear for my daughters.
28
That last paragraph was The finest piece of writing that I've read in quite a long time.
Excellent research, reporting & writing. Thank you!
76
I teared up reading the last paragraph! Bravo, Taffy!
11
I couldn’t agree more!
8
I completely agree. I so appreciate Taffy’s insightful, beautiful writing.
2
"Chocolate Diamonds"? Brilliant. :) Soon, maybe 15-20 years, all Diamonds may stop being "a thing" altogether. They are stupidly expensive and are only a thing because of expert marketing and false-scarcity. This is one area where millennials are really getting it right.
66
The companies is not in the business of selling love. They are in the money making business! Wake up ladies!!!
12
@Frank
Excuse me, Frank. Making money is one thing, but does abusive behavior, especially on the part of male employees have to part of the job?
5
Hope this gripping exposé of “institutionalized” misogyny of the most loathesome variety at these diamond jewelry stores serves to erode the company’s share price even further- in fact until it hits “rock” bottom (pun intended.)
51
It’s my birthday today. I am fifty-eight. This article brought memories flooding back of the seventies and eighties when women were, above all else, expected to be pleasing to men. Generally, we weren’t taken seriously. This was the air we breathed as we went about our daily lives.
Still, we went to work to do our best, not expecting to be paid less or harassed or both. When it became clear that we were being paid less, the reaction was not anger but self-doubt. When we were harassed, the result was confusion and shame.
My birthday wish is that those times are swept away forever, never to return to trouble our daughters and demean our sons. If any reader can begin to grant this wish, you will bring much joy to the world.
134
The notion “Every kiss begins with Kay” demonstrates the company promotes love and sex as commodities to be bargained for. The boorish and criminal behaviors documented here are unsurprising.
A law requiring all companies to make their pay scales public would go a long way in preventing abuses like these.
48
Buying diamonds next door to Build-a-Bear never seemed like a good idea. It is shocking how these women were treated like chattel- but encouraging that silence buttressed by shame is on its way out.
20
Thank you for your brilliant reporting and writing. Thank you for caring.
27
"Our bodies forever remain a library of our lives..." And a library of the lives of those who have victimized us. Objectification is a brutal form of oppression and fashion is another arm of turning people into things - the things they wear. This article is extraordinary but also heartbreaking. It has become easy to assume the world is, for women in particular but for anyone who is not wealthy, an ugly place but being faced with the institutionalization of ugly to the degree described here....is another thing altogether. Oppression is not about nameless groups of people, it happens to individuals.
29
@Nnaiden Or fashion can be a form of self-expression and wearable art, depending on what it is and what message the wearer wishes to send. Let’s not forget that the greatest couturiers of the twentieth century—Chanel, Vionnet, Lanvin, Schiaparelli—were generally female, and use their creative talents to show the world that women, too, can run a successful business.
1
While the men's and the corporation's behavior described in this article is disgusting in the extreme and occasionally criminal, I was troubled by the women's willingness to put up with the misogyny for so long.
The article described the emotional high that the women received from their jobs, but did not explain why they didn't seek other employment more quickly. It would seem that areas with enough population for mall jewelry stores would have provided other options. Did these women grow up without a sense of self-worth? Did they not know the difference between annoying and unacceptable behavior? Why were $16,000 salaries with the possibility of vacations to places like Hawaii and Puerto Rico enough to tolerate their mistreatment? Lack of education? Living in areas with even less tolerable employment options? I just don't understand why they stayed for so long.
8
@C Smith Victims of abuse often blame themselves for what happens, or continue to interact with their abusers in a vain attempt to reclaim their dignity. I'm sure the dynamic was the same.
28
@C Smith
Because, particularly at that time, much of those actions were "acceptable" and if you were getting a decent salary (which $16,000 a year was) and had benefits, you looked the other way. Even today, how many things do women just blow off because if we said something EVERY time, we'd never stop talking about it. If it hasn't happened to you (and it hasn't to me, but I know of people it has happened to), it's easy to say, "leave", but once you're in an abusive relationship of any kind it is difficult to leave.
27
This objectifcation and treatment of women permeated society. Some weren't aware, some didnt want to rock the boat, some were afraid of change, some couldnt be bothered to make the move, some were afraid they wouldnt find a better job, some just accepted it as the current reality, etc etc. It takes decades for societal shifts in behavior and attitude. Life is hard, complex, and the right answers often not apparent.
28
I've had something like this happen to me consistently during my (engineering) career. Even though I have taken numerous management courses, and have earned accreditations such as Project Management Professional; excelled in on-the-job management training offered through the company; participated in extra duties such as the safety committee and continuous improvement committees; yet I have found myself consistently overlooked for promotion after promotion. Every opportunity that came up always went to somebody else, often times to individuals that I myself helped train, and I never once got the chance to interview for any one of the positions. As a matter of fact I now find myself working for someone promoted above me, who was born after I had graduated from University! At least my technical expertise is recognized and respected (hopefully), since I'm often the only one who knows how to deal with certain technical challenges that arise.
One significant difference from the events of this story is that I'm a middle-aged white male.
Oh well - there's at least the possibility that NYT will see fit to publish this comment.
18
@Grunchy Another significant difference - yours is one anecdotal instance of you not getting the chance to interview, this article clearly shows systemic and company-wide instances of not letting multiple women interview, advance, or get paid equally. Come back with data showing multiple instances of middle aged white males not getting promoted or interviewed at your company, and you'll have a point. Until then, it's more likely the issue is something specific about you and not discrimination against a group.
28
@Grunchy It could also have to do with being likeable. Complaining to much or openly having a dark sense of humor can make people hesitant to have that person represent in a high position. I also work in a technical field and being popular is just as important as having skills like most jobs.
5
@JoPi
What a compassionate response. Every woman’s story is part of the data in that all women will tell you the same or similar stories as the ones in this article.
Most women I know are plenty sick of having their stories dismissed by people who tell them they are mere anomalies when, in fact, they are a pervasive aspect of our society,
4
Stunning reporting by Taffy Brodesser-Akner!
Was this article as soul-crushing to research and write as it was to read? I felt like I was being smothered reading the accounts of the rapes. The woman who had an affair with her married boss not because she liked him but because aligning herself as "his" protected her from suffering worse sexual harassment at work - that says everything about this rotten culture.
Sterling was a cult and I hope this story results in such a massive boycott that Sterling is bankrupted and forced out of business.
I'm 66 and retired now. I remember all the times as a young woman when bizarre mistreatment of women seemed "normal" and something I had to learn to ignore. In some way, most of us believed it was 'our fault.'
My favorite story of grossness was when I attended a prestigious academic program at the University of California at Irvine in 1979. There were about 16 graduate students in my program. Half were women. Both of the co-chairs of the department were men in their 50s.
One of the co-chairs, who frequently mocked and belittled female students, had a boat. One beautiful spring weekend, he arranged for all the male graduate students to spend a day on his boat with him sailing to Catalina Island. 8 male students. None of the female students were invited. All the male students went. Reportedly a good time was had by all.
If a professor tried that today, they'd be fired.
Back then, we women just had to shrug it off.
53
I can't even read the whole article. I am furious that this still happens. These stores will never see a dollar of my money.
33
My mother was a jewelry manager at Service Merchandise in the 1970s and 1980s. When yet another unqualified, uneducated man was promoted ahead of her (she had a master's degree!), she left the industry for good.
33
It's upsetting that Danielle is unable to believe that someone else's experience with rape could be different from her own and still be true. I know several women who were raped as teenagers like Dr. Blasey Ford and they would not be able to tell you the specific date it happened.
64
Not just the toxicity, criminality, sexism, but blood diamonds still get recirculated in this antiquated custom of engagement as the replacement of a dowry. Ladies, do not ask for the jewelry because diamonds are NOT a girls’ best friend. Ask for justice, equality, and fair pay and promotions.
37
I would never walk into a Jared store because the name sounds cheap. Now, I’ll add a second reason to avoid the store - discrimination.
34
@Prudence Spencer Jared Kushner. Need I say more?
4
Support your local family owned jewelers. All these chains and big corporations appear to have serious ethical issues. I do my best to stay away from them and patronize neighborhood businesses.
24
@Debbie J.B. Robinson was a family-owned business in Cleveland; Larry and Barbara Robinson sat on the board of the late Cleveland-San Jose Ballet, whose orchestra I played in. The loss of family owned businesses to chains, be it Sterling, or Macy's, or Home Depot, is a blow to a community's philanthropic base, in addition to other injuries.
15
I appreciate the reporter's in-depth digging despite the company's best attempts to keep it all under wraps. Thank you for blasting it open. I hope the legal system could be more efficient. it seems the system is rigged in favor of the corporation. I hope for these women to get relief and success as they pursue Sterling.
Do you know, women do a similar thing to other women. People are chopped down bit by bit in ways that don't involve sex. This is a significant part of human nature. To carve our own territories, our own success, we must cut the other woman or man down, keep them in a lower place. It's a more obvious situation when it's man vs. woman, wielding sex and our bodies against us. But women can wield words and relationships, they can ostracize and minimize. They're uniquely good at this.
Women knock women down too, with similar end results. There are few laws to address this. Sexual harassment doesn't fit the situation. But people who experienced the losing end of it are shaken to the core, for years, perhaps for the rest of their careers and lives.
It's bullying, it's retaliation, it's high school forever following us, it's aggressive culture, it's power tripping. It's human.
What will truly keep these dark sides of human nature reined in, in the workplace?
27
Thank you for this outstanding and thorough piece. A true testament to the power of good journalism. And also, unfortunately, to the misogyny so many women endure in their everyday lives.
Someone should take the findings of this article to make a documentary film. That could get this important story out to a larger audience.
54
Thank you for this story. The two years you spent reporting it were worth it. Magnificent work.
The diamond on my daughter's hand came from my family -- her great-great grandmother (my mom's mom's mom) lost an earring, and this was its mate. Five generations of women have worn this stone. I was delighted to hand it off to my future son-in-law.
Vintage jewelry comes with a story, and that's way more romantic than some kitschy jewelry-store ad.
57
Shouldn't these types of arbitration agreements made illegal as part of requirement in hiring in corporations? This kind of secretive practices only protect the ones in power - the ones with money to hire, and if all the jobs on the market requiring this type of arbitration agreement in hiring, then employees are the most vulnerable for this kinds of abuses.
50
@Francesco, That is why the Democrats in the House have introduced legislation to do so as Ms. Brodesser-Akner reported here.
28
Originally, arbitration agreements were meant to be negotiated between the parties. This was wonderful when both parties have significantly the same bargaining power. As used today, however, this simply isn’t the case.
11
One more reason not to buy trashy jewelry and blood diamonds from chain stores.
61
So Sterling...not so sterling after all.
I had no idea they owned all the jewelry stores in the mall.
I had no idea they treated women employees like crap.
I'm so glad I never went into any of those stores and won't be any time in the future.
I would never buy diamonds in the first place, because DeBeers artificially inflates the prices to ridiculous levels not to mention the toll on the underpaid -- and probably abused -- miners.
All of these unscrupulous horrendous behaviors, come to think of it, are typical of any male-dominated industry. I am glad the women are standing up for themselves and forcing change.
68
Jared was just trying to prevent the destruction of the American family, per Stephen Moore’s theory.
20
It's telling that the current CEO, a woman, refused to talk with the writer.
56
@Lisa No it is not. News media, employees or others have no "Right" to an interview. This is just another assumed entitlement.
Just ask a manager of any media a question about jobs and work conditions and they will always refer you to Human Resources who will then consult their legal consul.
Smart people say nothing because the interviewer is already biased on one side and just waiting for someone to say something that can be twisted to serve the writer.
In addition it may be company policy, especially in this litigious society not to allow anyone to speak to anyone including the media.
the wise decision is never answer questions or make statements, that's what lawyers are for.
I always recall what Pres. Calvin Coolidge said.
I never had to explain what I did not say.
1
Let’s face it. It’s not just a “kiss” that begins with Kays. The innuendo of this phrase always struck me as sexist. The corporate culture revealed in this excellent piece confirms this. In light of the current political climate, Sterling might consider getting rid of the “He went to Jared” phrase.
29
@Molly Bloomi That slogan has always bothered me because it made affection transactional.
19
Incredible article, worthy of any award. Just remember, DIAMONDS ARE NOT RARE, it's only an advertising gimmick, they very, very plentiful. Don't fall for the baloney, it's a DeBeer's thing, and they'd probably steal the coins off their grandmother's eyes, gangsters.
45
Powerful article.
Women were vital to the company bottom line, but they still paid them peanuts, promoted the men and then abused the women.
Corporate culture of only dirt bag men need apply.
31
Thank you. This is an excellent piece. I live 5 minutes from their headquarters and pass by every day. They just expanded a massive employee parking lot and destroyed a huge swath of green space in the process. I already didn't like their cheesy ads and cheap jewelry.... Disgusting.
38
@Tracy they had to close that parking lot this winter because they couldn't afford to plow it.
6
Note to women and girls: More self love, less grasping, and share your stories, so you have knowledge. Above all, educate and improve yourself.
30
Note to men and boys: more respect for others, less grasping of women, and speak up to each other when you see a friend or colleague harassing someone. Above all, educate and improve yourself.
5
@Orion Maybe we should add:
Note to men and boys: Less treatment of women as chattel.
4
Wow. Great writing. It is a compelling and stunning read on such an important subject. As an older woman who never experienced any of this in my life I find the sexual abusiveness of these men, this corporation just awful. I think all should be boycotted until they do the right thing, from their billions in profits, for these women they cheated and abused for so many years.
The last paragraph is a brilliant expression of what this is:
"Just one day she wakes up and realizes that all she was was a face, a line of cleavage, two legs, a couple of hands, the swivel of her pelvis, the swell of her breast. We were just the disembodied parts in the display cases. One day we wake up to find out that the diamonds were never chocolate at all; they were brown the whole time. And our bodies, which are finally ours again, can move on all we want, though they forever remain a library of our lives — of the hurt and the shame, and of what we either allowed or didn’t allow other people to get away with."
Thank you, Times, and author of this piece!
39
With the broad vision we have today of the cruelty and avarice,
Not to mention downright slavery and crushing
Conditions of the diamond mine diggers ,
Then this
The weaponizing of women’s bodies to market
These gems, along with the vulgar and assaultive culture ,
It’s all of a piece really........the destruction of
Culture , a bowing down to money....
Even reading about the individual things done or said by these men
Made me want to vomit ,
I was raised in a family of 6 girls,
We were never prepared for this reality,
How tragic for All these women
I’m so sorry.
17
WOW...The article makes me sick to my stomach. Harassment is bad enough, the inequality in pay, the male power games (including 'forced sex'), etc. The fact that they actually refuse to come clean and continue to cover up their shoddy treatment through "secret private arbitration" is untenable. I only wish that the responsible individuals are forced to answer for their behavior in court. After causing all these women to expose themselves, their behavior needs to be fully exposed and the company (excuse the pun) go bust.
19
I have wondered for years why no women have loudly complained about the Kay Jeweler's slogan "Every Kiss begins with Kay". The commercials invariably show a male handing over jewelry and being rewarded with, at minimum, an embrace and kiss. To my mind it strongly suggests that women trade their "affection" for jewelry, thus making it a commercial transaction between the female and the man who spends on jewelry.
Then again, I hate the slogan and the commercials, so maybe I am just overly critical.
32
@ljmc Plus, Kay sells cheap mass production jewelry.
12
I ageee. the cheesy ads, particularly just before a holiday, implying that your significant other is going to melt in your arms if you purchase a tacky overpriced piece of jewelry. Always hated those ads. Hate them even more knowing the games that go on there.
16
@ljmc
The ads are crass, tasteless, and insulting to women, but many ads are. Further, I can't boycott a store I wouldn't shop at. The low-quality jewelry sold by these chain stores is not desirable to me, and I consequently ignore the tacky ads.
11
NDAs must be made illegal. They are against the public interest and profoundly one-sided- in favor of the rich person/corporation. This needs to be step 1.
46
This is simply an outstanding article. Kudos to Taffy Brodesser-Akner for her stunning in-depth reporting and for pulling all this information together in a cogent and heart-wrenching report.
What these women endured and are continuing to endure is inexcusable and unacceptable. The culture that allows the "Good Old Boys Club" to remain and at times, flourish, is something most women are familiar with and seek to destroy.
Reading about the vast array of oppression, indecent speech, attempted sexual exploitation and rampant misconduct, which was allowed to transpire and was, apparently encouraged, glaringly reminds women what can happen when we don't speak up.
Don't play the game. Don't be lured by promises, bad behavior and threats. Don't acquiesce. We aren't pawns, sex objects and we must always demand respect and complete parity.
26
I found it interesting that the woman sleeping with the executive hasn’t realize, even with hindsight, that she was part of the problem. A company where this is tolerated is a company rife with sexual politics.
16
I will read anything by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. Exceptional reporting, masterful writing.
22
The lessons learned reading this well-written investigative article are not just the corrupt culture of Sterling Jewelry and all their stores; it is capitalism run amok. From the presidency to the Republican congress, corrupt politicians, the Supreme Court and conservative heavy judiciary and corporate America, the powerful prey on the powerless. Boycotting Sterling is a good start, but the greater implication is how our citizenry is being marginalized. Please vote and teach your children to ask questions to protect them from becoming victims of these predators.
20
Here's a salute to all of the hard-working women in retailing who give of themselves to the customer: savvy support, helpful direction, sharing of knowledge.
We need the retail workers' union back in force.
Kuddos to the insightful reporting. Ms. Brodesser-Akner "gets" these ladies, and does so with respect.
23
Not only is this culture horrible, their so product-- diamonds come from countries were the workers are exploited and work in unsafe conditions for small wages. Stop buying diamonds--these are toxic products which brings misery by disregarding human welfare.
21
Now comes the expensive PR push and gauzy ads.
Sterling - change your culture, sincerely and deeply, then donate significantly to domestic violence charity.
Thank you NYT - will walk by Jared without looking until they clean up their act.
21
I had always thought of the jewelry from these stores as cheap, stamped out stuff like you'd find in a Sears or Walmart. Now I know why.
23
“These accounts weren’t curated for maximum salaciousness. It is just a selection of the A’s and B’s.” Devastating. This article is needed. Thank you,TBA. More please, NYT.
21
Well written. The thing is that harassment in this company still continues. If your a manager with a family and cannot work the overwhelming extreme required schedule you are reprimanded. Even the female executives harrass female employees. This is a company that only wishes to hire and continue to employ people whom are willing to dedicate their entire lives to their job. Their "PEOPLE FIRST" commitment is just a cover for treating their employees like slaves making what a 16 year old at McDonald's makes. If you have a family, especially a woman with a family, you don't have a chance and no matter how many HR complaints they will never take action against the executives who promote this culture. So there really is even more to this story.
17
When the pay is so low, It makes me wonder how much of a jewelry purchase goes to commission or bonuses. I’ve never trusted those chain stores for that reason. It’s a full-on, hard-sell culture.
It makes me ill to read about the low-class, laddish behavior of those male employees. I encountered plenty of that nonsense back in the 1980s, when no one thought twice about it. It’s disgusting and sad that an adult man thinks that’s acceptable, in any job. Anywhere.
20
Given that the bulk of Sterling Jewelers Inc.'s various advertising campaigns are sexist garbage that exploits men, women and all consumers equally, this article doesn't surprise me in the least.
I developed an aversion to diamonds during my high school years when I did a research report on South Africa and learned how the diamond industry helped strengthen the apartheid system. The gross, sexist advertising by diamond companies throughout the ensuing years has solidified my revulsion toward this industry. "A Diamond is Forever . . . " I'm sure that it is, especially to a person who had a hand or arm macheted off as a child by soldiers working with blood diamond dealers.
Good riddance to bad rubbish - I hope Sterling gets sued out of existence.
31
I'll be brief, although this entire thing makes me want to scream.
1. How do these companies get such low level filth to work for them?
2. Why have these practices lasted so long, well into the 21st Century? Rhetorical answer: It goes on because, as set forth in the narrative, many of the women who work in this system are enamored of the beautiful things they can buy at a discount or are given to look lovely for the mostly male customers. What it really means is that many of the abused thought that the lunch at the bar was free! It never is!!
3. Why make a lawsuit when you can make complaints to the human rights commissions in every state? After that you can sue.
4. It has nothing to do with the values of the current generation. When my father was away in the South Pacific between 1942 and 1945, my mother went to work every day. She once showed me a long hatpin she always carried with her on the subway for protection from gropers. Even then men were abusing women.
5. Finally, the ubiquitous arbitration clause should never be allowed into an employment contract involving any worker who isn't going to make over 15% of what the CEO makes. Enough with the letting the bosses get away with this kind of abuse because they can hire people. Oh, and they should never be allowed to pay for the arbitration itself, because that is the best way for justice to blow out the windows.
13
The most heartbreaking and enraging thing? Some level of this kind of abuse and sexist mentality is to be found in many, if not most corporations.
20
Thank you for this article. We have spent so much money with Signet stores over the years, including our wedding and engagement rings. It makes me sick, literally to my stomach, that a company could treat its female employees like this. And it makes me sick that it took this LONG for the truth to start spilling out. I can't even look at the Zales rings on my fingers as I am typing this.
Hiring a female CEO is not enough. Hiring female board members is not enough. I'm not falling for any more of their advertising about how 'special' women are. They may think that 'Every Kiss Begins with Kay' but ALL of our family purchases end with this article.
25
I want to commend the Taffy Brodesser-Akner for a magnificent work of journalism. You, dear author, deserve highest praise for your contribution to Justice for women. And for their families, because injury to a woman is injurious to her children, partner and family. Marvelous patience, perseverance, relationship-building, integrity and trustworthiness, ingenuity and determination exercised through long years of careful research and preparation — I guess that’s all it took. And a thank-you to the Editors, too.
33
One moral of this story is: Don't shop at ANY stores operated by Sterling.
18
A number of years back a first Jared store opened where I live. I was excited for what I thought to be a 'high end' jewelry store. I live in the southwest and over the years I have been more interested in silver, turquoise, collectible pieces than 'hearts afire', diamond or gem jewelry. However I am not dismissive of a nice piece of bling. I am a working woman of a certain age, dress well if a little eclectic and I have disposable income. One day I decided I would like to buy myself a piece of fine jewelry. I went to Jared. I was totally ignored - not greeted, barely looked at, no one asked if I could be helped finding something. And no - the store was not that busy - there were unoccupied sales associates. I felt so uncomfortable. The article points to the marketing strategy of targeting men. While yes men do buy jewelry for women, let me tell you - women can do things for themselves and buy themselves jewelry. As this excellent article points out, this company is abusive to women on so many levels.
I left Jared's, went to a local jewelry store and dropped a couple of thousand $$ on diamond earrings.
56
Cheap, gaudy overpriced jewelry. An unsuccessful person’s idea of success indeed.
12
There is an easy fix: a complete BOYCOTT!
Women who are discussing marriage should tell their lovers to NOT buy an engagement ring at Jared’s.
Wives should tell their spouses to NOT buy any jewelry at Jared’s.
And it should be made clear to the company that they are under a complete boycott until past victims are compensated, and drastic changes are made in house!
18
Thank you for this article - an excellent, in-depth investigative piece.
5
Excellent reporting, but I do take issue with the repeated language about how the women "were served" as if the women were passive bystanders. It's not a good scene for a company to promote such heavy drinking at any sort of company event. However, a common piece of advice I here in the business world is to watch what you drink--both men and women. You can partake in cocktails and events and still limit your own alcohol intake.
11
A company trying to be a monopoly selling rocks that are not rare from a company that is a criminal monopoly. Sterling needs to be broken up. The few times I have bought jewelry has been in the diamond districts in NYC and LA. I personally detest having things hanging off my body. Those purchases were for my mom and girlfriend at the time. My mom appreciated my taste, the girlfriend was more interested in the cost. What a red flag that was.
4
Wow, I had no idea this was going on until now. I hope that all of these women receive the justice and peace they deserve - in whatever form it may take.
I will never give a single dollar to any of these companies. There are many independent jewelers online (ie: Etsy) who would be happy to make you a beautiful, meaningful, fair, creative, special, magical, bespoke heirloom piece. You can feel good about these kinds of transactions, knowing that it didn't come at the expense of someone else's dignity and safety.
11
Thank you, Ms. Brodesser-Akner for an excellent piece of investigative journalism. I have read your work before in this paper and you have truly written a masterpiece here. I hope this is read by thousands. What a truly awful environment to work in but sadly not an isolated one in our culture then or now.
Our current president would have been the proverbial pea in a pod at Sterling Jewelers.
9
These offensive acts and oppressive pay inequities were common in the 80's and 90's. It's unimaginable this still happens, but breaches can be difficult and costly to prove, particularly under regressive state laws.
As for the company product, their ads were maudlin, the jewelry uninspired. How they grew so large is beyond me.
9
I have a friend that works at Jared's. Most of the jewelry comes straight from China. the equivalent item can be purchased on eBay if you are willing to wait for the free shipping through China Post for approximately 1/10 the price at Jared's. We compared some actual items and yes, 90% less. but what girl wants to tell her fellow co-workers "He went to Ali Baba!"
24
This scandal has been in the press for a couple of years now.
The sex scandal is troubling enough but the other scandal no one seems to see is the restraint of trade and lack of competition when one firm has an de facto monopoly on the jewelry business. Whatever happened to the FTC and its review process for corporate mergers and buyouts?
12
WOW -- Thank you, Ms. Brodesser-Akner for this extraordinary reporting.
This story is one example of how evil is allowed by legalizing power and control schemes.
1. Wage transparency is not allowed.
2. The legal system exploited to benefit corporations. Zero accountability to the intentionally over-charged consumers; forced arbitration in order to even get a job there; excruciatingly long duration for some possible justice (except for the employees who were dropped from the class action lawsuit.) And discrimination laws filled with loopholes.
3. Employee/whistleblower complaints controlled within the confines of the charged entity. (An independent, outside organization is required to oversee legitimacy of a complaint and preserve justice.)
3. Tyranny is allowed to occur within the "dictatorship-run" corporation -- use of fear, coercive power, retaliation, and brainwashing ("so lucky to be there . . .")
I would love for the Times to investigate "fake competition." There's a long list of actual monopolies plus the list of parent companies and their subsidiaries who have cornered > 50% market share. I am particularly curious about everyday items that consumers use where there is substantial, fake competition. (Beyond the "search censorship obstacles" and "dynamic pricing" practices of companies such as Amazon.) Fake competition enables the myth that the consumer is getting the most effective/efficient (best value) products when, in fact, they are not.
12
Thank you for the attention to detail and the hard work that was obviously put into this story. Sexual harassment and misogyny happen at all levels of our society, and it’s only through stories like this that we can begin to understand the work that we need to do to repair it.
8
98% of the pieces these large chains sell are mass produced, outside the US, and in less than glamorous working conditions that most assuredly do not employ or respect women.
There is a way to avoid supporting chains that rely on poor pay and terrible work environments to make their profits: Support artisan jewelers.
17
I do not understand why companies treat female employees differently than male employees doing the same job.
8
While I never worked at Sterling I spent many decades working for family-owned business and some other chain stores. The sexual harassment and assault was not the norm I experienced. I truly believe that jewelry stores fulfill a needed role in our society. The toxic and disgusting environment at Sterling is due to their leadership, not the product they were selling.
5
14 years and the only ones that will get paid restitution will be the male lawyers right?
6
This reminds me of another article I read awhile back - that companies only promote women to the helm during times of turbulence - only willing to take a chance on female leadership when things aren't going well.
This is a perfect example. The problem was known for decades but Mark Light only stepped down in 2017, when malls and brick-and-mortar stores are failing all over the country. Now they promote a female CEO to soften the image. I think Ms. Drosos, like many other female CEO's, are setup to fail. She's in a no win position trying to clean up other people's mess while also trying to save a dying company.
83
@JJ Not to mention the large amount she received in compensation to do so - $13.7 million to be exact, including $1.5 million in bonuses - for "manning" the helm of a floundering company.
4
Sometimes I think about cancelling my subscription to the Times. Then I read something like this. Masterful reporting, masterful writing. Using a story to illuminate something bigger, something about our society, and where individuals fit into it. Thank you for this, you have earned my subscription with this article.
74
This is exactly the same comment I was about to make. Way too much political commentary on the NYT . . . we need many more stories like this that describe what's happening throughout our country. This is excellent writing.
14
Just to add a comment on Danielle's statement on the Kavanaugh hearings - "She wasn’t sure she could believe Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony, because she knows from experience that you never forget a thing like that when it happens to you."
As a mental health professional I will say bluntly that this is wrong. Being unable to recall details of a traumatic event is a hallmark of trauma. Our brains are not in "record details" mode during times of extreme stress, we are in fight-or-flight. This is one of the reasons that eyewitness testimony is so unreliable. This is a concept that has been demonstrated and validated over and over again in mental health and criminal justice research. Whatever your take on Kavanaugh this is not a reason to doubt his accusers, or those who have experienced similar events.
144
@NS
"She wasn’t sure she could believe Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony, because she knows from experience that you never forget a thing like that when it happens to you."
Isn't this sentence a self-contradiction ? Or am I misreading it ?
9
@Helmut Wallenfels Cognitive dissonance is a strange thing.
Ms. Blasey Ford did remember her assault in quite some detail. I wonder if ,with no prompts , Danielle could remember her room number, the exact date of the assault, the colour of the curtains in the room, the other people who were at the event, what her assailant was wearing...
For some reason I can't comprehend, Danielle *wanted* to believe Kavanaugh.
7
@NST
Thank you for this information. We would all do well to remember it and refute the often heard comment about which you write.
4
One of the best articles I’ve read in a long time. Thank you for excellent reporting but also a heartfelt telling of these women’s stories.
36
Wow. Superb reporting and writing. I can only imagine the collective emotional toll this story took. Thank you.
96
While I would never in my life buy any of the low quality merchandise sold by Sterling stores and I have always been revolted by their advertising, I am outraged at their mistreatment and disrespect for both employees and customers.
Thank you for this story. But nothing short of a complete boycott of all Sterling stores is the acceptable response to this investigation.
151
How can I nominate this story for a National Magazine Award? And I'd like to see it as a book. The research, the detail, the interviews, the writing - everything about it is terrific. The writer has helped innumerable people - women and men - today by training a spotlight on this company and it's soul-crushing culture. Done with mall and chain jewelry stores. My heart goes out to the women who worked there.
129
Thank you for writing this article. As a former Kay employee, I experienced many of these things personally and it's so amazing to know that the women who experienced real trauma's voices are being heard. I'm glad this is getting public attention again and hope that somehow Sterling is made to pay for their company culture outside of the natural decline of their stores.
164
That was worth every minute. Simply devastating. I’m so struck at how the treatment these women received at Sterling impacted their lives and their sense of self long after they left their jobs at Kay, Jared, etc.
A year ago I had an epiphany that I wanted to put together a talk for young, high school aged men and boys about bystanders’ responsibility to reject toxic work cultures that victimize or devalue women even if standing up for what is right is difficult or professionally challenging to do so.
This story has inspired me to move forward with that idea.
207
@William R please follow through on that talk. Young men (all young folks, actually, but especially young men) need that kind of education and encouragement to stand up for what is just and equal - they get enough of the opposite every day. And the political climate dos more to entrench toxic masculinity than to counter it, I think. Kudos to you and your mentorship.
19
Restrictive employee agreements need to go. That is what allows issues to fester and build.
126
@Tim That is very true! I left my work place, a well-known, high-end, professional office in Manhattan, after having been sexually assaulted multiple times. After being in an increasingly hostile conversation with HR over a period of a year and a half I finally packed my bags and left. It cost them half a million dollars but I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement. The firm continues to let male employees assault female employees and they act as if it doesn't happen in their office. If and when the story ever comes out there will be a lot of questions that they will have to answer.
17
Thank you NY Times for shining a bright light on this. It's appalling. Two major takeaways: 1. Forced arbitration lets deep problems fester in secret where they may never be addressed. Congress must ban the practice for good, or at least ban the secrecy around it. 2. Letting ownership of an industry (jewelry sales, in this case) concentrate too strongly is a mistake.
95
Jewelry is mostly a racket. Certain high ranking members of DeBeers can't even enter the US, under threat of arrest.
30
Thank you for the education!
While recognizing some of the distractions (asking a sales associate to display an item) I always brushed it off as just a cheesy sales presentation, nothing as vile as the depths show them to be.
Never again, Jared, Kays, Sterling. Never again Jane Seymore collections.
You've taken a heart felt gift for a loved one and turned it into a swarmy, piece of trash that once you know the story, once you sense the pain associated to them, it's impossible to look at them as a gift to a loved one's special event- A graduation, a Mothers Day gift, a 40th anniversary. Instead you've poisoned the gift, it can't be seen in the same light anymore.
No more!
427
@peter: I am with you. But maybe we can think about jewelry in general and diamonds in particular? Isn't the whole thing superficial and crooked? Aren't the prices massively inflated? At some level isn't jewelry shiny objects for birds? Isn't it conspicuous consumption? I struggle to find anything positive about the jewelry industry in general, even if they treated employees well. Maybe that's what this article should be: Jewelry is a con.
8
Actually, when you learn about HOW diamonds are mined, it should be ‘never diamonds’. Just like Coke and Santa, diamonds and love are a NEW ‘marketing’ creation. Run.
8
Agreed! Vote with your dollars. No enterprise that exploits and abuses its workforce deserves to stay in business, no matter what type of gauzy faux romanticism they're hawking.
Here's an idea: buy estate sale jewelry from your local, independent jeweler. Reduce, recycle, reuse -- all the while supporting your local economy and enjoying a unique object of beauty that has some history. You'll enjoy it much more than some mass marketed gewgaw that reeks of sexism and corruption.
4
"She told me that she had just been watching the Brett Kavanaugh hearings — she’s a big fan of his — and she was happy he was confirmed. Did that surprise me? she wanted to know. She wasn’t sure she could believe Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony, because she knows from experience that you never forget a thing like that when it happens to you."
Am I confused or is this statement complete doubletthink?
83
@joyzy
I agree. The woman's story and her support of Kavanaugh are out of sync. Despite her experiences, she is still drinking the cool-aide.
22
@joyzy: I found Danielle's distrust of Christine Blasey Ford and her alliance with Brett Kavanaugh -- even after Danielle was assaulted -- extremely disturbing.
9
Disgusting and sad. I will never buy jewelry at a jewelry store again. There are too many talented women creating unique and special pieces to help fund this horrible legacy.
47
Welcome to the ugly USA - a place where groping is endorsed by the POTUS and backed by his choker chained Republican Party.
A land not of laws, but of greed. The people are objects. Women are toys to be played with and discarded. The swampy symptoms of the USAs decline have been bubbling forth for a long time. Now here we are - and it’s disgusting.
79
what is wrong with a diamond being brown?
3
@Ria Generally speaking, the brighter white the diamond, the more valuable it is. However, diamonds do come in colors -- yellow, pink, blue, and brown.
6
@Ria
Purity.
Colors in a diamond mean an “impurity” (an element other than carbon) was introduced during the process in which the diamond was made. Pure, clear diamonds are rare, hence their perceived superior value.
15
@Ria; brown is considered the least attractive (excluding black) of the colored diamonds. That's why they are called "chocolate" by the industry. Next is yellow, which you will often find marketed as "champagne". Blue and pink (especially large pink, which is very rare) are often more valuable than clear or "white" diamonds. A good quality red diamond is so rare that it is often difficult to put a proper price on it.
33
An excellent in-depth story! Another group of stores to strike from my list.
39
Why can't we pass the ERA? Because it would be expensive. Expensive enough to kill some businesses and send ripples through the entire economy. For equal pay you'd need pay transparency, and that would lead to embarrassment, anger, and lawsuits. Me Too would pale in comparison.
And we can't strike. If we go home, we're giving them what they want: women back where they belong, powerless, dependent, and no longer a threat. I believed at one point in my life that I could choose not to participate, not to be exploited, but unfortunately that's not an option: stay home and the system exploits you a different way, that's all.
Ms. Brodesser-Akner, thank you for sticking with the story. Maybe it's old news and maybe it isn't, but there is something powerful about hearing the truth of a situation when you've been, um, force-fed a ration of Kool-Aid your whole life. We all knew something wasn't right, but we've been told over and over that things are better now, that we can do anything, that sexism is over, that boys are getting left behind, that all we have to do is pursue our dreams and take that job . . .
79
@Patricia I'm glad all four of my middle aged adult daughters choose to be mothers and stay at home.
This is going on in many fields and all aspects of retail. It has to stop. I am so glad people are finally talking about it and suing.
Maybe there is one potential upside to the fact that so many malls are dying or zombie malls. Fewer opportunities to sexually harass women?
I hate malls - but jewelry stores in particular - because they commodify out-dated, dangerous, retrograde gender norms and they reify those "norms." Supposedly women are bought with jewelry and expensive Princess wedding fantasies.
This not only holds up tired gender based ideas about the commodification of "happiness," it also supports the underlying message that average women (and men) should mimic the behavior of the 1% , for "their one important day." So it leads to a tremendous amount of debt for a ring and a wedding - so expensive it could have been a major down payment on a home.
Women are socialized to believe that this is what they must aspire to. Men are taught that this is what they must buy into and support. Hetero-normative gender roles are capitalist illnesses.
After their "one important day" (the wedding), women often get no more "important days," but are frequently subjects of domestic abuse, sexual assault, low pay, poor access or no access to reproductive healthcare and education, plus workplace discrimination. It is time we sweep aside these toxic "gender norms."
The diamond industry is disgusting in particular because diamonds come from blood & cruel colonization.
85
Men generally know a lot about the car they buy before they buy it but know next to nothing about the jewelry they buy. I used to haunt the better local auction houses and regularly saw really good diamond jewelry selling for 15% of retail price. The buyers were often jewelers . When it comes to a great old Tiffany string of pearls don't expect to get much of a bargain but you may not be looking to spend 150K, The auction houses aren't into selling sex and they will often be willing to help the customer learn more about the items they are selling. In addition you will sometimes see amazing artisan made jewelry that you will never see at the jewelry chain stores.
23
Simple. Most of Jared's jewelry is marketed to women; bought by men, parents and other women.
Women have enormous power to change business practices through purchasing decisions. Given Jared's bottom line depends on women, they should bend over backwards to be a pro-woman employer. Boycott.
36
Wow! What a powerful story. I'm happy my father, a jeweler, always said stay away from retail stores. Not only is the markup criminal (triple keystone) but with this company, the entire culture is corrupt.The whole jewelry industry needs to be exposed (and I love jewelry) as its health is supported by ignorance and trickery. The average person knows nothing about what they are buying, especially the "investing" part because resale on a purchased retail diamond or jewelry is pathetic. Buy a diamond, retail, for $5000 and you're lucky to resell after the break up for $1500 depending on the quality. People tell me they shop retail because they trust the store (ha) and because they can get credit. Neither are good reasons to do so.
42
This seems like a good time to remind people that there are is also a)antique jewelry, b) local mom and pop jewelers (make sure they're not owned by Sterling! and c) wonderful artisans on Etsy and at your local craft market. I always thought that mall jewelry was super cheesy anyway and probably full of African blood diamonds.
98
My goodness, what wonderful journalism. The time and effort it took to put this together; thank you Ms. Brodesser-Akner! This is great research, writing, and editing. And enlightening.
56
What a terrific article!
I remember Zales and Kay ads from years back, but always assumed the stuff would be over-priced, just by the tone of the ads, so I would never go there. What I'd never thought about was the marketing angle: of course, a man knows nothing about what jewelry to buy his wife. So the female associate is the trusty guide who knows the merchandise, has the look of a knowing woman, and has a few catchy phrases ("you, me and us") to reel in the sucker (a man). The sexism and pay disparity are a perfect match for that culture. I hope the company stock goes to zero.
31
Insightful reporting-sunlight continues to be the best disinfectant...
What to do when the rage subsides:
1) WOMEN- educate your partner that mass-produced jewelry with a ridiculous markup cannot buy your love. Particularly Sterling jewelry.
2) MEN- stop shopping at Sterling stores and consider a more creative, thoughtful approach to gift giving.
3) ALL- end the practice of arbitration for employment disputes. The data demonstrates strong bias towards employers and the gag ruling is insidious.
Shop local and put Sterling out of business, and make the Boys Club a relic.
57
#1 - This is a horrible story.
#2 - There's enough vintage - dare I say "used" - jewelry in the world one need not resort to buying baubles in a mall....
26
@Taxpayur
Even a good piece of vintage costume jewelry is often better designed and made than the standardized, boring, and overpriced jewelry that is found in these types of jewelry chains.
9
@Taxpayur there are also still locally-owned family jewelers out there--they are sometimes hard to find, given how steep the competition is from Sterling's subsidiaries, but they are there. Seek them out. They are awesome.
5
@lilmissy and if you can't find them locally, there's always Etsy.
From the article:
"… she had just been watching the Brett Kavanaugh hearings — she’s a big fan of his — and she was happy he was confirmed. Did that surprise me? she wanted to know. She wasn’t sure she could believe Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony, because she knows from experience that you never forget a thing like that when it happens to you. "
She should be believed but not Ms. Ford? Is that one reason so many women believe it is futile to report rape, abuse, and discrimination? How many of the women in this article voted for Trump?
32
Being a woman does not make you immune to misogyny.
We older women, in particular, grew up in a culture that objectified and devalued women and most of us struggle to recognize how those values have betrayed us. The most effective way of dealing with this world was to go with it; be attractive, find a man to support you, wear the diamonds. (The darker side of these baubles is that they are portable wealth. They can be taken and redeemed if you need to run from the man who gave them to you.)
The harder path, the true path, was to claim your self worth and fight for your rights. History, very recent history, is littered with the bodies of women who walked this road.
21
@Chickpea
Beautifully put.
3
Those jewelry commercials always made me sick. They are false, saccharine, and sickening.
And then you read this heartbreaking and infuriating story. Arbitration agreements and Non-disclosure Agreements are a license to lie, cheat, and steal. They are also the refuge for misogynistic men including the current occupant of the White House.
26
Everyone should share this story! And vote against the good old boys! This is what happens when corporations control America : we get mandatory arbitration and nondisclosure agreements, and judges like Kavanaugh - accused of rape and who will review this case. Corporations got Citizens United which determined that corporations have the rights of individuals, including the right to free speech which includes the right to ban under secretive names to lobby for themselves without public knowing details.
16
Thank you Taffy Brodesser-Akner and the NYT for this incredibly detailed and well-researched article. We have to keep pushing them for equal pay and fair treatment at work.
It's amazing to me the intricate systems men put in place to keep women underpaid. Some of the incidents in the article were things I also experienced while working in the hospitality industry--creepy behavior, linguistic tricks to underpay me. Others incidents are shocking--the blatant sexual harassment is so gross.
The thing that always gets me is how these repulsive men who have no demonstrable intelligence, aptitude, education, charisma, handsomeness, knowledge, or any other qualifiers are consistently elevated and given power over the rest of us. Again and again. The "good" old boys club, indeed. Let's raze it.
47
She should have left. It is foolish to stay where you are not appreciated. Jewelry is a competitive business and she is in a big market. If Ms. Souto-Coons is as good as she appears to be, she would have found a position where her talents are appreciated.
1
@Donald Champagne, did you miss the part of the article where the author states that Sterling, Inc. owns Zales, Jared, J.B. Robinson's, Kay Jewelers, Ernest Jones and Piercing Pagoda?
You write, "Jewelry is a competitive business and she is in a big market." That "big market" is monopolized by Sterling, Inc. You're wrong that it's a "competitive" business -- it only appears that way. Unless you're lucky enough to still have a local jeweler that hasn't been bought out by Sterling (most of us are not so lucky) -- Sterling owns ALL the jewelry stores.
3
A little bit of research shows that Signet is "domiciled" in Bermuda with its headquarters in Ohio. So they're a bad actor on many, many levels.
38
Another big business abusing employees, unfortunately not a rarity in America these days.
14
What makes me really sad is that Signet's stock price is up 3% today, even as this story breaks.
12
@Jeff Thomas Because they sell what the customer wants at the price point they wan to pay.
99.9% of their customers could care less about who sells them want they want as long as they are treated well by that sales person.
And, what percent of their customers read the NYT, never mind this article.
Try and find a print copy of any paper on the street, it's all on line to subscribers and even that does not read well on a even the biggest smart phone screen.
I say this in despair as people are no longer exposed to various newspapers to get a broad read on a subject.
After the destructive Union Newspaper strike of 1962-63 when in the end five NY new papers ceased publication.
I may not agree with the NYT or the WSJ or the other national and international papers I read every day, but nothing will ever taste the place of print news and long gone real journalism. Damon Runyon, Walter Winchell, Ed Sullivan, Grantland Rice, Edward R. Murrow who stood up against Sen. McCarthy, Buckley, Breslin, Walter Lippmann, H. Salisbury, H.L. Mencken, Drew Pearson, I can go on and on.
1
So much “Ugh”!!!
I always thought these places had junky, gaudy, high priced worthless stuff. Glad I never patronized them! I hope somethings changes from this great article!
18
ps
diamonds are not "rare"
their value is artificial, set by the industry.
99% of all people could not tell the difference
between a real diamond and cubic zirconia.
"used" diamonds sell for less than half of
"new" ones, yet there is no wear and tear like
a used car.
and, the premise of wedding jewelry is sexist:
a man buying a woman's affections and her wearing
a ring to display that she is "taken" like a piece of
property
OPT OUT ....
35
Yet another sad example where the mega corporations don't care about their own employees, exploit women because they think they can, rip off customers with overpriced kitsch all so the company can make Wall St happy (and even richer). Disgraceful the way Sterling are twisting and turning to avoid addressing the problems they have created and allowed. I guess a big lawsuit detrimental to the share price would affect someones bonus. Shame on them.
I deliberately didn't go to one of the mall jewelers to buy our engagement ring, and that was before I knew about the horrors revealed in this article. Shop local and independent as much as you can, with store owners that do actually care about quality and service and not just the bottom line dollar.
231
@SJ This is predatory capitalism. And it is the economic system we live in.
4
@SJ Your last sentence is so totally on-point. Shopping locally feeds your hometown’s economy and creates greater independence from corporate hegemony in general.
Remember, the day after Black Friday is Small Business Saturday!
8
Headlines into today's NYT - this story, Google retaliating against women for protesting Google's lavish exit package for a senior executive embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal, and Fed nominee Moore lamenting that it's just not fair that men can't "get away from women" anymore (among his tamer comments). Quit telling me to lean-in and work harder - how about telling a lot of men in power not to be abusive jerks?
117
Yes.
Ten thousand times.
3
this is an excellent article with an incredible amount of research behind it. thank you for shedding light on this industry
20
Outstanding piece of writing! As the father of three daughters and a son, all grown, I'm appalled to read this and couldn't stop. I was in the world of retail for almost 30 years, not jewelry, but still occasionally saw nefarious behaviors. Fortunately, it wasn't tolerated at that company and perpetrators were frequently fired after being identified. Those that weren't seemed to toe the line afterwards. I remember when the arbitration document was instituted and current employees were asked to sign it. I refused to do so and our SR VP of HR came to ask me why. When I explained that it was clearly benefiting only one party, the company, he thanked me for my answer and never spoke to me until the day I left the company. I wasn't pressured to sign it but I often felt I was on thin ice from that point forward.
Should have been a lawyer.
33
@Brian
I am guessing that your experience in refusing to sign the arbitration agreement occurred some years ago. Corporations today have all the power, and thanks to republicans, that power extends to the courts. You'd be fired today for that.
16
buy diamonds at Costco! they have great diamonds at fantastic prices, and they treat their employees well, from everything I have read.
I love shiny things but fortunately never went to Jared's, Kay's etc.
17
@Susan You should be aware that the jewelry available through costco is made in the same sweatshops as the pieces available through Zales, Jareds, Etc.
4
I have worked in media for many years. As someone already commented, how many women are having "hey, me too" thoughts about what Dawn experienced. When I started my career, the only women who were promoted were those who were having relationships with men at the top. It's changing somewhat, but we are far from equality. Articles like these have amazing power in bringing about change, no matter how incremental.
30
The headline says it all.
"The Company That Sells Love to America Had a Dark Secret"
Who is buying this "love", and who is the recipient of this largesse? I'll bet the owner and the employees of those stores know.
I find the idea of buying or selling love to be weird. Is that the so-called dark secret. Or perhaps it reflects some fundamental reality baked into the human condition. Maybe it's both.
I'm one of those people who thinks that everything is linked to everything else. It doesn't surprise me that the store which sells expensive baubles to men to give to their women to affirm their love also pays women less than men. That isn't right, but it is symmetric. And it's easier to move a piece in the human puzzle if you know what is holding it in place. Moving one piece without considering its neighbors is reductionist in the extreme. It's also harder.
Welcome to the future. It's complicated.
9
@mlbex People give jewelry sometimes, as a gift, out a genuine wish to show admiration, offer a trinket, bestow a memento. There is nothing dark or nefarious in that. A man's desire to give jewelry to someone he loves, or anyone's desire to give jewelry to someone else, does not have to be a bad thing nor a comment on someone's "worth" to someone else. This story is ugly, yes. But sincere gift giving is not.
8
@Caro: I never said it was nefarious. I just tried to explain on of the other aspects of gender relations.
Many things can be true at once.
I hope that the following happens: whichever financial institution banks them kicks them out immediately for reputational risk issues; that people refuse to shop at their stores; that there share price plummets; and, that the claimants win their lawsuit and are generously compensated.
51
The painstaking research the author conducted is evident in this beautifully written story. I want to thank her for writing it and thank the New York Times for publishing it. It is often through news reports like this that women realize their similar experiences are valid and have been taking enormous tolls in their lives. Thanks also to the women who agreed to be interviewed and who articulated the aftermath in a way that informs us of the insidious nature of gender/sexual discrimination.
224
Well, that's me not buying jewelry from them again, at least until extensive apologizing, restitution, and reform has taken place. Thanks for calling them out. We should shine a light on bad corporate actors so that the public knows what their money is supporting.
34
The more you read about American big business, the better it gets. Yet they get rewarded with tax breaks and business friendly legislation. It won’t get better with all the conservative judges we are appointing either.
88
When you consider how women and girls have been treated for thousands of years, this movement is long overdue. It is just discouraging when one considers how little progress has been made in Western countries. How very little progress...
66
Correction: This is not common in the “western world” - it’s the United(?) States of America that clings to the anchors of male power. This includes the deluded notion that ignoring identifiable facts and risks is suicide for a democracy.
3
Long article, but read most of it, all the while thinking, "This is different from the rest of Corporate America... in what way?"
59
I hope they win big. Very, very big.
75
I am not surprised. Selling glitter and shine to confirm respect and commitment. Fakery and falsehood cannot possibly lead to genuine acknowledgment of the worth of another.
On the corner of 57th Street and Fifth Avenue, one of the, if not the, most important retail intersection in the world, there are a Bulgari, van Cleef, Bergdorfs and Tiffany's. In light of this story, what does that say about the aspirations of humanity.
18
I've been a big fan of Etsy for buying jewelry. Buying an item that has been mass produced seemed to undermine the entire point of telling my spouse that they are special.
40
I worked part-time at Kay Jewelers the year that they were purchased by Sterling. The most important thing I learned in the jewelry business is that diamonds are truly worthless, except for cutting things. DeBeers has a diamond mine monopoly and they mine and warehouse vast amounts of diamonds and try to pass them off as rare and precious. They market diamonds as the equivalent of love and wealth and people buy that hook, line and sinker. Diamonds are actually common, not rare. The power of marketing is incredible. I quit that job at Kay's shortly after Sterling took over and I never purchased "precious" jewelry again. The Sterling company treats women horribly and deserves to fail. Regardless, young women seem to be learning that diamonds are not a girl's best friend after all.
280
@Beth
Another reason not to purchase diamonds is the controversy of "blood diamonds", which fund wars in African countries, as well as the environmental impact of diamond mining.
If one must have a diamond, purchase a vintage one.
20
@Beth
Just yesterday I saw an for lab-grown diamond jewelry -- at Tiffany's.
4
@Beth
DeBeers does not have a diamond mine monopoly. They are the originators of the DeBeers bourse in Antwerp which controlled the global supply of diamonds, and thus pricing, for a century. They distribute only to a controlled list of middlemen, who are required to take the packets DeBeers offers at the price DeBeers demands. Packets are mixed lots of various sizes and grades of diamonds. Canadian diamond mines far up north pose a major threat to their power.
I have never made any purchases at chain or mall jewelry stores because when I was growing up women were not allowed to have credit in their own names and because the bulk of jewelry advertising on TV and radio were aimed at men to buy on credit in the days when a MasterCharge or BankAmericard (now Mastercard and Visa), thus relegating any "gift" from these establishments to have the same value as the ring in an oxen's nose.
My first real job with tax withholdings was at a three person colored stone wholesaler that sold only to the trade and I saw rampant sexism from diamond setters, manufacturing jewelers, jewelry designers and more. My first insult came when we replaced the old brass counterweight scale with an electronic scale when a manufacturing jeweler, an elderly Armenian, stated women were unqualified to operate scales. The owner, a man, refused to serve him, leaving us female workers to stare at him until he changed his mind.
10
Religion doesn't treat women equally either, so what can one expect?
28
'Chocolate Diamonds' give that person a big raise.
16
@Walter McCarthy- They are also marketing
"Champagne" diamonds. These yellow colored diamonds were also used for industrial purposes until they were marketed as a rare, beautifully colored stone.
9
@Walter McCarthy
Next they'll have "Stratchiatella Diamonds"
~ with multiple, visible inclusions!
5
@Davidoff. A true "Canary Yellow" diamond IS rare, and expensive. I am not sure what the market is for them these days. The "champagne" ones are really just "off colored" stones, including other minerals when formed. When i was in the business these would have been used (if at all) for filler, or as "promise rings", where the stone is so small the color is not really a point. A true flawless blue white diamond is still the most desired, if that is your thing!
corporations are not "people"
NDA's should be outlawed.
163
@t power
I agree that corporations aren't people. But the Supreme Court thinks so. Remember Citizens United?
1
"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function." F. Scott Fitzgerald
It is wrong that women should get less pay for the same work as men. That is a given. But try to remember the first paragraph before reading the next.
If I had to guess, I'd say that the bulk of this type of jewelry is purchased by men, to give to their women. If and when women really do make as much as men, will they be buying the equivalent of this jewelry for their men?
I won't credit comments about how some women do buy lavish gifts for their men, unless you believe that it is somewhat near as common as men buying expensive jewelry for their women. Nor will I credit any comments saying that I believe the pay gap should remain. It should not. I'm all in for equal pay for equal work.
As the pay gap closes, will the gift gap close with it? Am I the only one feeling a bit of cognitive dissonance?
7
@mlbex
Women who work at the supermarket also make less than their male coworkers, despite the majority of shoppers being women, and the majority of the food they purchase being eaten by men.
20
What does what one spends one’s money on have to do with equal pay for equal work?
14
@mlbex My brother got a truck for his 40th birthday! Pretty sure he never spent that amount on a piece of jewelry for his wife. My grandfather once got a really fancy Rolex from his wife as a gift. My hubs got a fishing trip once.
Men have their toys too, they just look different.
8
Powerful writing. Powerful story.
Great that Sterling is exposed. Many other companies and industries remain to be exposed.
Take tech. Deep bro culture. A few “shiny” women, for “denial plausibility”, like Sterling.
Many more stories like this one are yet be told.
Thank you for writing with such clarity, passion and power that this story will be remembered.
105
Great article!
20
@Genevieve La Riva Yes, great article, but so sad. It makes me angry and frustrated that the situation existed (exists?) and that the lawsuit has been delayed for so long.
The odd time I buy a piece of jewelry, I go to a small shop owned, operated and staffed by women, with a woman who does repairs. It's a small, family owned store, not part of a chain. The jewelry is much better value for money than the mall chain stores. The women may guide an indecisive customer to a purchase, but at least they do it honestly without being obliged to flash anything other than a smile.
12
This should be good for business.
6
@Martin X
I know where I will not be shopping. That’s certain.
38
@Daria. Ditto, Daria.
7
2 things.... aside from their horrible corporate culture.
1) mass produced jewelry.....why have something 20 million others will be wearing. Shop local, find a local jewelry maker. Or vintage.
2) don’t Chocolate diamonds=coal
Isn’t there a GIA Clarity scale that praises clarity & color?
21
Men objectify women's bodies and gaze upon their curves with lascivious intent. It is in our deepest DNA. I thought that by the time I reached 69 this impulse might diminish. It has not. It is one thing to have such thoughts inside the privacy of one's own mind, and quite another to act upon them. A civilized person treats all of his sisters and brothers with kindness and respect.
48
@Chuck Burton
I am 82 and couldn't agree with you more.
5
@Chuck Burton I disagree. It's actually pretty easy to look them in the eyes and treat them like fellow human beings, once you get the hang of it. I'm 71 and you would not believe how much better it makes me feel. Also, I think I get a lot more smiles and friendly conversation that way.
4
I always thought these jewelry chains were cheap and sold gaudy things - like the Applebees of jewelry. I continue to buy jewelry at local independently owned shops. Glad I never gave Sterling any of my money.
174
Many millennials are smart enough to dismiss the sales pitch that a big rock shows big love.
Better to save for a home, pay off student debt, or travel.
Even better - buy beautiful second hand jewelry, to stop the social and environmental exploitation as well.
The jewelry business has promoted this commercial myth for too many generations. Enough.
102
This is so, so hurtful and sad. I felt kind of dirty just reading it, I hope these people get some compensation for how they were treated, and more importantly, that it never happens again.
96
Did you reach out to Jane Seymour? I'd like to know her thoughts.
I phoned the owner of our local family-run jewelry store located in a nondescript shopping plaza to tell him to read the article. For decades we've purchased watch batteries, charms and an engagement ring. Never have we felt pressured to buy a more expensive item.
76
Seems pretty simple.
Women, any woman, should be compensated for her work in line with her responsibilities and performance. To the degree that they were discriminated in that manner they should be compensated.
End of story.
But, this is sales. If a good-looking young woman or man with sex-appeal is able to consistently sell more than those who are not, it is the interest of the business to make more sales and hire those people. Life isn't fair in that way.
I recall in college that my girlfriend at the time made nearly twice the tips as anyone else. Of course she did, as she was, by far the most beautiful woman in the restaurant, employee or client -- and male parents of college kids were paying the bills. So what. More power to her.
Beyond blatant discrimination, no business should be forced to hire, retain, or promote a person whom is felt to not fit the image of the company or its public face.
2
The article clearly states that the women who were discriminated against for promotions and salary made millions for the company compared to men who had no or little previous experience . The article also states that there was sexual harassment and rape. Is this why they want beautiful sexy people?
73
This story reminds me of hearing how my aunt, a executive secretary in a company where she was one of the founding employees, had to train the man who would become her boss. That was in the 1960s.
It also reminds me of the time the male programmer I supervised on multiple projects at a university where I worked as a database programmer, was promoted over me. That was about 2005.
170
@Chickpea: I don't know if it's true or not, but I heard a story about how when the Stock Exchange went to automate trading in the 60's that the person in charge requested a recruiter find the best person for the job. Unfortunately, that happened to be a woman. So, the Stock Exchange hired the second best person, a man, who happened to have been a student of the best person for the job and when the guy got stuck, he would ask his former professor for her help.
Maybe it's true, maybe it's a myth. It certainly sounds like something that could be true.
1
I am starting to believe that the United States of America should be renamed the United States of Exploitation. Exploitation, exploitation, exploitation.
193
Wow. What an eye opening article. Thank you for your in-depth reporting. I’ve shopped at Jared stores and remember their “chocolate “ diamonds, though thankfully have never bought into that pitch. It disgusts me that women have been treated so awfully bc of a corporate culture encouraged by c-suite execs. And why does it not surprise me that their female execs are quick to deny or blame other women for transgressions ? Yet another example of women not supporting each other to earn men’s approval or be a part of the good old boys network, at the expense of helping another woman out. For shame.
337
But the women have fought back - and against great odds.
Thank you to every woman in this story who had the courage to stand up against Sterling and a culture not just of unequal pay but of systemic sexual harassment and degradation. Thank you too for sharing your stories. Every story matters.
143
Yes thank you for each women who joined lawsuit and this writer. I and my husband have bought from these companies over the years. No more! Anyone want to buy some used jewelry? Shame on these companies, execs and the women who supported these policies. Congress should ban mandatory arbitration and nondisclosure agreements. Everyone should share this article!
35
@KR said "Yet another example of women not supporting each other to earn men’s approval or be a part of the good old boys network, at the expense of helping another woman out."
No. NO! It would appear that the male-dominated executive class on down to individual store management at Sterling created a culture of secrecy and fear so that women could not know and could not support one another. Management knew EXACTLY what they were doing.
29
This company didn't sell love, just overpriced jewelry.
19
What’s astonishing about this fine story is how long the company was able to hide and continue these egregious practices. 69,000 women came forward. The EEOC suit was settled without an admission of guilt by the company. Found this recent bit at Wikipedia:
On January 16, 2019, Sterling Jewelers paid $11 million under a settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Bureau's investigations concluded that Sterling violated the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 by signing customers up for store credit without their knowledge or consent and enrolling them in payment-protection insurance.[16] The investigations also found that the company violated the Truth in Lending Act when customers were signed-up for credit-card accounts without receiving an application from them. Sterling's parent company, Signet Jewelers Ltd, refused the allegations but then accepted the settlement.[17]
37
Anyone concerned about justice or equity should stop buying new jewelry altogether. The sexism of the retailer is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the exploitation of workers, especially miners, in the industry at large.
30
I was offered a corporate job in the 1980s, to work to for them in their marketing department. They offered me the job as I was giving them a demonstration of a system I used, they were interested in purchasing. Wow! I am glad I turned it down. I stayed at my retail corporate job that also underpaid its single female employees. The difference was this company treated me with respect letting me learn, getting a good reputation in my industry without having to deal with the nefarious acts described in this article.
Why did you have to describe Dawn, the egg rancher? Did you describe any men in your article? Women are composed by their body parts with their brain being last. You never hear a man described by his head full of hair or other body parts.
Wear them down in the legal system. How often do I read or hear this and it’s not only in this case.
I never was interested in jewelry from this chain as I thought their merchandise was cheap and overpriced. Their commercials were also just bad from my point of view but they must have been successful or the company wouldn’t continue to use it. Chocolate diamonds. Feh.
It’s unfortunate that this was the way things were in the 1980s. I feel bad for the people who will lose their jobs in the upcoming months.
Thank you for making this public, along with The Washington Post. Please keep on reporting on this story and others like this.
34
Janet Doe - Regarding your comment “It’s unfortunate that this was the way things were back in the 1980’s” - are you kidding? This is the way things ARE, especially under the GOP-sanctioned groper-in-chief WH occupant, and discredited/criminal nominations and appointments.
The daily actions of un-American, anti-Democracy and factually unpatriotic corruption of the GOP and its supporters will surely lead to the destruction of our constitutional protections. The Founding Father’s brilliance (even with the flawed contemporaneous mores of slave-owners) as authors of the US Constitution don’t stand a chance if we continue to have one of our 2-party system committed to it’s destruction. The GOP has abandoned the worthy conservative perspective of their predecessors, in favor of unrelenting obstruction; refusal to compromise; and all sense of decency. They need to be relegated to the trash heap of historical failures and miscreants.
Democrats and Independents need to vote to wrest control from the GOP, and strive for a viable and worthy political opposition to represent all CITIZENS of the United States of America with honest and dignified representation.
5
@Janet Doe
"Why did you have to describe Dawn, the egg rancher? Did you describe any men in your article? Women are composed by their body parts with their brain being last. You never hear a man described by his head full of hair or other body parts."
Amen, amen, amen. Journalism can't quit the unbalanced focus on female appearance. It matters, and it perpetuates the problem, subtly or overtly.
Congress is broken, and won't draft legislation banning mandatory employee arbitration. However, the Supreme Court needs to take a case on this, and rule that it's discriminatory and prejudicial to employees on its face.
35
@Karl: I'm sure the merry band of Trump supporters that compose the majority of the current SCOTUS either would refuse to hear such a case or would decide in favor of the corporation.
1
I will never shop at the chain anymore. Let them go for good.
92
As a woman in her late 50's I'm surprised that people are shocked by this. This was normal corporate culture in America and not specific to this company. It makes me sad to think of all the things that I put up with over the course of my career that I barely noticed because "thats just the way it is'" Never even occurred to me I could do something about it.
321
Late 40s here.
This is why I scoff at “MAGA” thinking.
95
@Sharon Audet
Mid 40's. When I was a kid I was taught that fortunately sexism was over. Ha.
49
@Sharon Audet
Sadly, "doing something about it" could lead to being unemployed, broke from legal representation, and possibly being blackballed by potential employers.
15
Fascinating story—well-reported—even if hardly surprising! I am so glad to know the names of these stores and chains, because now I know where never to shop!!!
62
As a teen, my first paid job was at a Jewel Box mall jewelry store in the 1970s. I saw this type of behavior. It was "normal" then. Leaving that store, I went to work for a locally owned jewelry store thinking I would earn more. A new manager was hired and he was so egregious in his behavior. He was suggestive, rubbed himself against me and propositioned me verbally. I was so horrified, thinking that I'd caused this unwanted behavior. I quit the job and was so horrified that I didn't tell the owner why I'd quit. My next job was at a shoe store in the mall...and thankfully, I do not recall that type of behavior again. A few years later I went to work for a "contract jewelry" store in a small town. They are called contract stores b/c sales people try to get people to "charge" and buy things beyond their ability to afford. I worked there with older women who were like grandmothers. So much has changed, and I have learned about how we as women were inculcated with the idea that we *were* sex objects and the described behavior *was* normal. Glad I'm the age I am now and know the difference. Glad that women are savvy to the predation of those who see us solely as sex partners and objects rather than as creative, intelligent, unique and valuable human beings equal in all things.
46
A hard article to read but done excellently. I will never shop in any of those stores as a result of reading about this abominable behavior. I will shop with local, family run stores or stores that I can make sure, without a doubt, have no connection to this firm. We should all do that.
81
Stop shopping there.
52
Excellent article and fabulous reporting. A shocking story that is hard to accept even these awful hateful times. Never will shop at their stores. They ought to be run out of business by the damages they should oy these women they wronged.
35
Did this article ever say where the litigation rested, or what was it's outcome?
5
Why is this company still in existence? Boycott Sterling entities and support your local small business instead.
149
From the title of this piece I thought we could be talking about people gaining conscience of how truly terrifying the diamond and jewelry industry is. Where many of the world's diamonds are mined using practices that exploit workers, children, and communities. Where million diamond diggers in Africa earn less than a dollar a day. What about those people? But no... let’s just keep focusing on the “civilized” part of the world and not worry too much about what goes “over there”. This is not to dismiss any of the issues brought up in the piece but - How about a massive strike from all these women workers that were treated unfairly, harassed, and discriminated? When will we start acting as a society and act together and look at the whole picture of what these corporations do?
37
@Alexia They didn't mention conflict diamonds because that was not the subject of this article.
14
How many times are you going to write and say the same thing. Go and write that story. These wo!an have an important story which this writer is telling. STOP!
6
“Not buying there” but ... “buying somewhere else”? Way to go with your politics and forgetting about the rest of the women in world whose untold stories are completely removed from any of our western culture considerations. I will stop when companies that not only reproduce gender oppression but promote brutal working practices cease to exist. Until then it is my right to ADD to the conversation. As I said I am not dismissing any of the article. But I suppose we take what we choose, just like your “not buying there”.
1
What an amazing and detailed article that was hard to read because of the numerous foul, anger provoking and deeply offensive ways in which this company treated its female employees. This article should be compulsory reading for all business schools on how not to treat employees.
159
@Leninzen It may be used as an example of how to hide things better so they don't get caught.
@Jean That would be unfortunate but given the "ways of the world" quite possible.
1
Terrific article. To confess it has never crossed my mind to shop at Jared and shopping there now has been crossed off my mind for good.
105
I thought monopolies weren't allowed? This is really not only a major case of gender/sex discrimination but IMO consumer fraud. Time to stop buying jewelry at big stores entirely? PS where is the stuff made?
26
This isn’t a monopoly or anything near it. This is like Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, and Ross all being part of the same company.
5
Ah yes, the romance of thievery in the retail jewelry world. This is capitalism in its truest form. And the mob rallies to their own destruction.
40
Companies use sex to sell because sex sells.
The problem is that the sex that's sold is mostly sold from the male perspective for the male consumer. And women are ultimately the object being sold.
Sterling's culture is easily described as toxic and if you're a woman, potentially dangerous. They started down the slope that sex sells and now sex -- not as a sales tool, but as a cultural touchstone -- is pushed, prodded, coerced and promulgated by management.
Sterling isn't alone is selling this warped sexuality. Ever see an ad for chocolate? When marketed to women, chocolate ads make it abundantly clear that biting into a hazelnut covered in slowly flowing chocolate provides an orgasmic experience.
I wonder if those ads were written by women or men? And which gender sits in the CEO's chair?
33
@DCS
It clearly states who's in charge now towards the end of the article, Virginia Drosos.
4
@DCS. We are fooling ourselves if we think having women CEOs will make things any better for the rank and file.
29
@Gabbyboy
I'm a woman and agree. Some of my most awful, incompetent, and corrupt managers have been women. The rot is in the entire management culture of today.
38
Not saying this is the total solution, but support your local jewelers if you still have them. Often family/owned and less likely to have sex appeal driving them.
60
Thank you for this incredibly well-written piece. It feels like we (human beings) have all collectively been fed a massive cultural Gender Rufi which we are trying to awake from after tens of thousands of years ("Rape? Sexual Harrassment? Exploitation? Misogyny? What?! Really?") I don't know, though. Call me a pessimist, but the Rufi seems to be in vapor form and it keeps emitting it's narcotic effect on us all, putting us back under. ("Everything's fine. No problem here.")
29
One of the best long form articles I have ever read in the Times. And the last paragraph is a gut punch. A great job by Mr. Brodesser-Akner. Perhaps what's happening to Sterling now is a form of corporate karma. It's a shame so many were hurt before the reckoning.
40
@Keith
It's Ms. Brodesser-Akner.
60
Case in point.
1
Add makeup and telecommunications to your list for future exposes. I am certain there are many more. How to find them? Go to a conference and see which ones have "booth bimbos".
Men need to do more homework. If you want nice jewelry, go to a well trained private jeweler and ask to see the stone certification if you go for diamonds. Estate jewelry is often more interesting but check to see if the stone is ok, not replaced.
44
@poslug
Makeup is a total scam, sold to women who are pressured to believe they "need it" to look acceptable.
Its amazing how many jobs still expect women to wear a full face of makeup to look acceptable and conform to appearance standards at work - standards set by men.
I'd love to see an expose of the cosmetics industry.
6
Good god, what a sleazy bunch of men. Was Jane Seymour contacted for a comment?
At 10:00 am EST, I'll call the family-run jewelry store, located in a nondescript shopping plaza in Pittsburgh, where we've shopped for decades. Ring cleaning, replacement watch batteries, a charm for a bracelet -- and never any pressure to purchase a more expensive item.
28
Gross. I had to stop reading. Should have stayed with the"velvet" stores downtown, where people had ethics and morals. What awful places these mall stores are, from the salespeople to the manager, to the jewelry itself.
22
Thank you for publishing this story. Although neither my husband nor I have ever shopped at Jared, I am certainly going to make everyone I know aware of its disgusting, misogynistic business practices. Shop at quality establishments owned by local families or individuals.
37
I'll NEVER shop at Sterling stores.
47
An excellent piece of writing -- Ms Brodesser-Akner is to be congratulated. Sterling (ironic name in itself really) is emblematic of how America's capitalism can run away with itself: sexism, male privilege, profit-chasing without ethics, and overall moral laxity. That the company has refused to take much responsibility, if any, for its behavior conveys its defensive, pathetic stance. And its poor business performance since being "outed" is a just outcome.
But as happens, those paying the worst price are the women whose lives are changed by the men in the corporation who abused them and treated them so miserably. As a male, I cannot begin to imagine being placed in such a situation, even had I chosen the job in the first place. To be subjected to those conditions day after day would have to damage your psyche, self-esteem, and soul. I have to wonder -- how many companies, despite the appearance of progress, are still functioning like the one described here?
87
I will never shop at a Sterling store again. I hope everyone chooses to boycott Sterling for years to come.
32
This article opened my eyes. My penny won't go to any of these stores ever.
27
Buy your jewelry from local jewelers. Find a true artist on Etsy. Don’t buy from a sleazy company with suspect ethics and shoddy merchandise.
106
Q: “But what woman is certain that the problem isn’t her, but them?”
A: Literally every woman.
33
All this time it turns out the diamonds were paste. And how many millions of people gush over the "low prices" at Walmart, one of the most exploitive and unethical corporations in the world?
32
@Chuck Burton
You couldn't pay me to shop at Walmart.
16
How ironic, to be a woman in an industry that lives off the exploitation of foreign, mostly black, labor. How many "conflict-free" diamonds are available via Sterling? None, I bet. The diamond and precious metals industries are full of criminals, racists, misogynists and thieves. I knew that. But what most impresses me in Taffy's writing. The last paragraph is poetry that truthfully and accurately frames the experience of most women in America. That is why this President can get away with his egregious behavior towards women in full view of a public that either just doesn't care or, in the case of women, is so beaten down that they figure that's just the way life is. Great writing.
139
Well said!!! Thank you!!
11
Yeah, kind of like the way women were treated by John Kennedy and his two political brothers. So gentlemanly, so respectfully. For some reason, women seemed to like it, either *then* or by *them*. Yup, those were the days.
I was wondering when someone was going to bring “this president“ into the discussion and make him the fault of everything that is wrong in the world today, yesterday, and tomorrow. And, no, I didn’t vote for him.
1
@Lesterly: Lax labor laws is something the GOP has brought us. The conduct of a few individuals can hardly be compared to the shoddy treatment of thousands of women.
3
My feminist soul never desired to walk into a Kay's to look at the wares. I always thought it was a con to receive rocks for love. Also, I would look down on the women with the pretty hair, make-up, and perfect outfits.
I can only say that this article makes me so sad because I thought those women had power. Yes, they used their sexuality and beauty to sell - but they got money for it! Instead, they got harassed, demeaned, and fired when they became useless to the men in power.
Not my daughter.
51
So, you looked down on women with pretty hair, nice nails and fine outfits. That’s great. What a terrific show of feminism you are. And by your standards, women who want a diamond are not feminists. And apparently nor are those with pretty hair, nice nails and fine outfits. I’m glad your sense of self-righteousness is working so well and that you aren’t too busy judging the rest of the world and reveling in schadenfreude now that you know what has happened. You make me sad. And not just a little bit sick.
7
I find the use of the first-person — ‘she told me’ — quite jarring. Otherwise a good article.
5
A good start - The US Senate... each state must always have a minimum of one female senator.
7
Buying conflict diamonds from assaulted women.
47
This is Pulitzer material.
214
I’m so glad to see this moment in history, where patriarchy is having a bright light shone on its ugly underbelly. But, women must become an increasingly autonomous to keep the momentum going. i encourage all women to watch HBO’s “Gentleman Jack.” This character’s self regard and ability to navigate through challenging business transactions should be heralded as a role model for women, everywhere.
10
Wow. Amazing reporting.
15
never buy jewelry from a chain store. especially not these shrines to abuse.
50
“Every kiss begins with Kay” says it all. Coercing sexual interaction through a gift that a man buys a woman.
80
@Jenny Alpert but it was clever - kiss does begin with the letter K.
3
So sorry for these two (and others treated so badly), but I still have to wonder what one would really expect from an industry that really is such a scam?
Don't but that expensive ring, it means nothing (and basically is worth nothing)--put the money in your retirement account, you'll thank is 30 years from now.
15
After reading what this corporation has been doing to its employees, I am simply not going to go shopping at any Sterling Jewelers, Kay, Jared the Galleria of Jewelry, Osterman, J.B. Robinson or Zales stores.
Given their corporate attitude, they will probably sneer at loss of one potential customer knowing they can lure in hundreds of others by announcing a sale on their industrial "Chocolate Diamonds". So be it, this is my personal decision and I am very comfortable about having made it.
474
@EMIP After reading this brilliant article — no pun intended — I am sure you are not alone in this decision. The marketplace will continue to punish this company which continues to be rotten to the core.
3
This is an important article to read, but I could do without the pop psychology at the end. The brutal facts presented in the article about Sterling's business practices are what's important.
20
This is a very political issue. The lack of worker rights and protections is a goal of the GOP.
The most prepared and able presidential candidate to not only counter this, but to correct what's been so wrong for so long is Elizabeth Warren.
My disgust for the Republican party has never been this strong.
42
I’m sorry, I have to say it. I’m sure I’ll get flagged a bunch of times, but it still needs to be said. What an idiotic remark. This has nothing to do with the GOP, Elizabeth Warren, or anyone in politics today. Just stop. It is abhorrent behavior, it isn’t right, but it has been going on a lot longer than this administration, the GOP, or anything called the Republican Party. Just stop. This isn’t about that.
6
@Rafael L.: "This is a very political issue. The lack of worker rights and protections is a goal of the GOP."
Of course it has something to do with the GOP.
1
I am happy to see that the market is punishing Sterling via its stock price. I don’t wear much jewelry myself, but when I do I wear pearls, earrings, necklace. I have never walked into a Jared or similar. Now I never will. Many thanks to the Times and the author for shining a light on this despicable company and its outrageous systemic practices.
634
This is a strong compelling unveiling of a horror show. I was minimally distracted when every once in a while I saw Donald Trump’s image pop up as I read.
Turning away from that..... I have never set foot in one of those stores, ever.
14
The Federal Arbitration Act, which requires courts to honor and defer to private contract terms in which the parties have agreed to resolve disputes through private processes, was designed for and most properly suits conflicts arising between sophisticated self-funded companies in business-to-business relationships.
Its growing use in employer-employee and business-consumer relationships over the last 40 years has contributed in enormous, but often virtually invisible, ways to the disempowerment of both employees and consumers.
Companies use the fine print to get you to sign your rights away. It’s utterly despicable unequal manipulative coercion of the little guy/gal by the corporate behemoth. But if you don’t sign, you don’t get the service, the product, or the job.
How’s the good old (boy) American justice system working for us now, eh?
75
I never shopped much in these stores; just the sappy commercials alone made me gag. But occasionally I'd stop in one of them to get a watch battery changed. Won't be doing that anymore.
30
The gender pay gap issue can be clouded by comparing different jobs and experience levels with each other. That doesn't appear to be the case here. It's disheartening that the case is taking so long to maneuver through the legal system. And even more disheartening how many hardworking women, just trying to make a living, this discrimination has affected. Thanks for bringing this egregious example to light.
27
@KYP Disheartening that the case is taking so long to maneuver through the legal system? I'm paid by the hour!
4
Excellent research, writing and insights. I hope this is read by all. I feel for all the women who were part of this. We all have stories, don't we, ladies?
I hope that women read this all the way through, and give it to their daughters. It's worth the time.
90
@Tish Wells
give the article to their sons too
23
I don't understand, why does the U.S. Department of Labor allow companies to require a mandatory arbitration agreement? Or if that does not apply, then why does congress allow it?
32
@Alex Mandatory arbitration agreements are allowed in employment contracts and for consumer products here in America because corporate interests are stronger than employee and consumer interests. In many parts of the world, including generally in Europe, such arbitration clauses are illegal or invalid, as they should be. As a lawyer who has regularly dealt with these contracts, I can attest that they are extremely unfair.
246
Alex- Citizens United, and the stacking of conservative judicial placement/nominations by the wholly comprised and inhumane GOP and its supporters.
You need only to pay attention to the current administration’s blatant rollback attempts to all consumer/worker protections in favor of unregulated greed and corruption amongst the wealthiest minority of “Americans.”
13
This article is spot on. My ex wife worked for this company. Hope the plaintiff’s get many times more than they have asked for!
205
This is a gripping story well told. And 'Sterling' may rest assured, I will never shop in their stores.
235
Wow. It's stories like these that really inspire me as a student journalist. We need this kind of reporting-- I'd never even heard of this! Thank you for telling it the way it was meant to be told. Powerful.
425
@Rebecca Flieder, The many women who finally spoke up made the story big enough for news companies. Hopefully stories like these would make more women know they need not tolerate all those harassment and discrimination, but not sure women in those industries get to read NYT. Perhaps unions or non-profits can help.
5
@Rebecca Flieder
Diligent, exacting, muck-raking journalism written in vivid, approachable prose. Taffy Brodesser-Akner is a massive talent.
1
Kudos to the reporter on this in depth story. I appreciate the diligence and extensive effort over such a long time to bring this story forward. It’s sad and frustrating that a company would devote so much time defending its wrongdoing and paying lawyers rather than it’s valuable female employees. As the company value diminishes, leadership continues to pour money into their defense and readers act with their wallets, it ultimately has a negative impact on the front line staff with loss of opportunity. With such overwhelming evidence one would think the company would opt to settle, put it behind them and rebuild. That just goes to show you how entrenched this culture is. Thanks to this story, perhaps the consumer will get their attention by taking their business elsewhere.
345
Isn't the entire jewelry industry based on the premise that if a man buys a woman some special shiny rocks or metal he'll increase his chances at having sex with her?
Maybe the culture of a retail company born from those ideals hasn't really gone off the rails as far as this article suggests.
That all aside, everything I just read in this article left me further disgusted with my gender and the human race in general.
308
@MitchP
Some women, myself included don't need a man to buy her diamonds. I felt empowered when I was able to buy my first diamond bracelet. Men are clueless when it comes to jewelry, most men are not all.
I used to work in retail my first job was as a senior in HS, there was a men's warehouse type of store I was the only female in the store (a cashier). Both salesmen took lunch together all the time. One day a man came in looking for a suit since I was the only one in the store I offered to help him find one. He left not only buying a suit but a couple of ties and socks and a couple of shirts. When the men came back from their lunch they noticed that a sale had taken place they scolded me for taking the sale away from them. I pretty much told them perhaps they shouldn't take lunch together. They looked even more confused. After my shift ended that day I quit. Some men just never get it and sadly never will.
254
@MitchP "That all aside," says everything. Or perhaps it was "Maybe the culture of a retail company BORN OF THOSE IDEALS..." that made me want to puke. Whichever, it's a brilliantly researched and written investigative report and I salute Taffy Brodesser-Akner for her courage in bearing witness to very singular kind of war, the systematic war against women all over the world for simply being born a woman.
43
Not to mention the disgust how long does it take for these women to see some justice.....
38
A member of my family used to work at a Jared. She said the environment in the store was strained; over time, she came to the conclusion that younger, sexier women were favored over older, supposedly less attractive women. Through diligent hard work, she eventually was recognized for her success on the job by being named employee of the month. The next month, she was fired. The rationale was that she was late -- she was five minutes late in a snowstorm. In SEATTLE. The storm had nearly paralyzed the city, and no one in Seattle has snow tires. It was an excuse to get rid of her and hire another, younger woman. Speaking as someone with management experience in both private for-profit and private non-profit organizations, that's absolutely terrible management, to say nothing of the unethical and illegal discrimination. I suggest that everyone boycott this company. Buy jewelry from local jewelry makers instead; there are scads of them. You can find them at various markets, bazaars, and renaissance fairs, or online. They can also make items to your specifications; I once had a gorgeous necklace made for my niece by a fellow who had no storefront and no online presence at all. Send a message with your dollars -- or lack thereof. What you can purchase from a local artist is far more beautiful than factory-model jewelry anyway.
861
@Livie: this article and your post both conflate and confuse the issue of sex discrimination and AGE DISCRIMINATION. Whether you find younger women "sexier" or not, the fact is that your relative appears to have been fired because of her AGE.
Men are subject to age discrimination too. And this affects people in many industries. In fact, I am hard pressed to think of a single industry where it is an ADVANTAGE to be older, more mature and more experienced!!!
My husband has been subjected to severe age discrimination -- started in his 50s, but went over the falls by the time he got laid off in his early 60s -- which was age discrimination very clearly itself (he was replaced by a WOMAN who was 31 years old! and pregnant!) -- but also in terms of rehiring. Every layoff and firing mars your resume and CV, and likely results in a lower paying, lower status job in the future -- a vicious cycle of failure, which was ramped up immeasurably by the Great Recession of 2008-2014.
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@Concerned Citizen
Actually, as an employment attorney, I would assert a claim for both age and sex discrimination. She was almost certainly not fired simply because she had gotten older, but because she was an older woman. I would also guess that males of a like age were not fired for a trivial reason such as being a bit late in a snowstorm.
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@Concerned Citizen
You missed the point. Firing a female employee because she's gotten older and the company wants to replace her with a much younger woman is EXACTLY about sex discrimination.
The idea that women are worn out as employees when they get older and have gained experience because they no longer look "young" is one of the most insidious aspects of our culture.
Male movie stars keep currency as leading men in their 50s, 60s, 70s. No female movie stars do. Name me a female actor in her 50s still being cast as a romantic lead. There aren't any.
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In the mid 90s I worked at an ad agency in Cleveland OH and I was assigned to pitch Nate Light for his new concept “The Diamond Store” to become his ad agency of record.
He was openly sexist and inappropriate towards me in meetings. His subordinates including his son, found it hilarious and my colleagues were ...unhelpful to say the least. He played us like a fiddle as he dangled the promise of a lucrative contract in front of us for months asking for more and more free ideas to demonstrate our abilities.
Finally after they chose their first store location -which I strongly advised against because it was in an awful dated failing strip mall —they didn’t hire us. They thought I was arrogant (because I was a woman who challenged their decisions). They may be successful but The Diamond Store failed within 2 years.
At least I dodged that bullet.
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It is ironic that discrimination laws on the books are so full of holes you can move a Jared store through them. It is also hard when economic times are tough to say I am worth $20/hr because I sell more than $1million a year. But think about that for a minute. Selling 1 million or more and you are only worth $40k a year without commissions?
Employees are no longer valued, no longer assets. It is also fair to say the bigger ticket jewelry is no longer a free and competitive market.
We can change this; we can demand tough laws on discrimination that come with prison time and fines that hit corporations square on the profit line. Until then, don't shop at these stores.
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@skramsv
Excellent points. I’m not sure how it affects the calculation of employee value, but it’s worth noting that an investment of $1 million in the stock market yields about $40 thousand in interest a year (without commissions).
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@ST
Dream on. Not all companies pay dividends and 4% is a high one. And there are years the stock market goes down.
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That may change, at least temporarily when employers can't find enough personnel to fill the jobs.
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More than “Every Kiss Begins With Kay” at Sterling Jewelers.
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This kind of behavior was not limited to this company during this time. I worked in a major department store as a buyer from 1976-1980. Everyone (at least the women) knew that incompetent people who were overbought in their department by millions of dollars were promoted or allowed to remain in their positions because they were men. I attended a party once at a local country club, and partners or spouses were not invited. The President and Vice President of the company arrived with a champagne bottle in one hand and a woman (not their wives) on their arms. I left soon after. Rumor had it that the VP was recruited to the store from California, and he moved his family AND girlfriend to town. He supposedly set his girlfriend up in an apartment, furnished with free furniture by the suppliers. Another story that was widely circulated was the time the head of Advertising was caught having sex with the buyer of silver and china at 5 pm on the floor of the advertising office. I could go on and on. Although I personally suffered only mild sexual harassment (as compared to the women n this story), it was a hostile workplace. After coming home crying every night for weeks, I quit and went elsewhere. It was clear I had no future there.
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@Kathryn C: many company events are "employees only". And while I generally disapprove of infidelity and adultery -- is the personal life of the President and VP of the company really your business? so they cheat, openly in public? isn't that stupid? what stopped YOU -- or any other employee, let alone women employees -- from discreetly contacting the President/VP's wives, and letting them know? just a photograph mailed in an envelope with no name or return address? and NOBODY DID THIS?
The fact that President/VP were cheating on their wives is not sexual harassment of EMPLOYEES. It seems like there is a thin line here between actual harassment of an employee -- which is despicable and should be illegal -- and "Mrs. Grundyism", where your feelings are hurt because even SEE anybody engaging in any immoral behaviors.
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@Concerned Citizen
I guess the part about a "harmful or offensive working environment" is thus excused.
Wrong.
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@Kathryn C These are all examples of the beauty of capitalism.
Capitalism - the system that is touted as being the most efficient, most utilitarian, best for everybody.
Sure, all the overbuying, promotion of the less able, sure that is all good.
You see it over and over, the waste, fraud and abuse that happens in private companies. But, nobody ever talks about it.
Government systems, and government employees on the other hand are never left out when it is time to vilify things.
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This piece is a perfect embodiment of its themes. The beauty and truth of the writing stand in stark contrast to the ugliness and brutality of the story. Riveting and un-put-downable. Taffy Brodesser-Akner is a national treasure.
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@GreenGirl NYC Yes! Taffy Brodesser-Akner's writing is incredible. I especially loved the last paragraph of her article about how a woman can just end up as disembodied parts in a display case - this what it truly means to be a woman who is objectified, reduced to a mere object. Here's that amazing last paragraph again:
"Sometimes, after talking to one of the women, I would find myself alone in a parking lot or a conference room or a hotel room, or just at my desk having hung up the phone, and I would have to heave away the feelings of self-loathing the interviews brought up in me and also the tenderness, the intersection of which is absolutely deadly. We are not so easy to break, but once the job is done, it’s done. The thing about the systematic reduction of a woman down to her parts is that she doesn’t always know it’s happening while it’s going on. Just one day she wakes up and realizes that all she was was a face, a line of cleavage, two legs, a couple of hands, the swivel of her pelvis, the swell of her breast. We were just the disembodied parts in the display cases. One day we wake up to find out that the diamonds were never chocolate at all; they were brown the whole time. And our bodies, which are finally ours again, can move on all we want, though they forever remain a library of our lives — of the hurt and the shame, and of what we either allowed or didn’t allow other people to get away with."
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