June 20 (Reuters) - Snapchat owner Snap has agreed to

pay $15 million to settle a California civil rights agency's

claims that the tech company paid women less than men, subjected

female workers to sexual harassment and retaliated against them

for complaining.

The California Civil Rights Department announced the

settlement, which is subject to court approval, in a release on

Wednesday. The deal would resolve an investigation that began

more than three years ago, the agency said.

Santa Monica-based Snap in a statement provided by a

spokesperson said the company is committed to maintaining a fair

and inclusive environment and denied engaging in systemic

discrimination against women.

"While we disagreed with the California Civil Rights

Department's claims and analyses, we took into consideration the

cost and impact of lengthy litigation ... and decided it is in

the best interest of the company to resolve these claims and

focus on the future," the company said.

The state agency has brokered several large settlements in

sex discrimination cases in recent years, including a $100

million deal with videogame maker Riot Games in 2021 and a $54

million settlement with Activision Blizzard last year. Those

companies denied wrongdoing.

The department in Wednesday's release said Snap underwent a

period of rapid growth between 2015 and 2022 but failed to put

measures into place to ensure that women were paid and promoted

equally.

"Instead, women encountered a glass ceiling and were told to

wait their turn, were actively discouraged from applying for

promotions, or lost promotion opportunities to less qualified

male colleagues," the agency said.

The department also alleged that female workers were

subjected to unwelcome sexual advances and other harassing

conduct. Women who complained were denied professional

opportunities or fired, according to the agency.

Along with the payout, Snap has agreed to retain an

independent consultant to evaluate its compensation and

promotion policies, ensure that contracts with staffing agencies

require compliance with anti-discrimination laws, and conduct

training on the prevention of discrimination, retaliation and

sexual harassment, the department said.

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