Tech Giant Google Consents to Pay $28 Million to Resolve Allegations of Racial Prejudice and Discrimination
In the buzz surrounding Google's settlement agreement, some eyebrows were raised when the deal excluded Black employees from the proposed class, a move seemingly against Google's long-term goal.
Google agreed to dish out a whopping $28 million to settle accusations that it unfairly favored white and Asian workers, providing them with better pay and opportunities for growth compared to colleagues of different ethnic backgrounds.
The BBC confirmed the settlement, but Google flatly denied any allegations of misdoings. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2021 by former Google employee Ana Cantu, alleged that employees of diverse ethnicities - including Hispanic, Latino, Native American, as well as others - were often given inferior starting salaries and job titles compared to their white and Asian counterparts.
Cantu, identifying herself as Mexican and racially indigenous, claimed that she consistently received outstanding performance reviews during her seven-year tenure with Google. Yet, despite her peers' white and Asian coworkers getting extra pay, bonuses, and promotions for similar work, Cantu's salary and responsibilities remained largely unchanged.
Cantu argued that Google intentionally places white and Asian employees in higher-level positions and retaliates against workers who point out bias or favoritism. Her claims were backed by a leaked internal document suggesting that some ethnic groups received lower compensation for similar work.
The lawsuit gained class-action status, representing at least 6,632 individuals who worked for Google between February 2018 and December 2024. Cathy Coble, an attorney for the class, applauded the "courage" of the diverse and allied Googlers who reported their pay and leaked the data.
"Suspected pay inequity is too easily hidden without this kind of collective action from employees," Coble stated.
Google, however, continues to claim that it never discriminated against any employee. "We reached a resolution, but still disagree with the allegations that we treated anyone differently, and remain dedicated to paying, hiring, and promoting all employees fairly," a Google spokesperson told the BBC.
California's Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Charles Adams preliminarily approved the settlement last week, deeming the proposed terms fair and reasonable. The NY Post reported that around $7 million of the $28 million settlement would be deducted for legal fees, costs, and penalties under the California Private Attorneys General Act. This leaves approximately $20.4 million to be distributed among the 6,632 class members.
However, questions were raised about the exclusion of Black employees from the proposed class, a potential deviation from Google's previously stated aim.
- In the wake of the $28 million settlement regarding Google's alleged discrimination against employees of diverse ethnicities, questions have emerged regarding the exclusion of Black employees from the proposed class, seeming to contradict Google's stated commitment to diversity and inclusion in their business policies.
- As the debate surrounding Google's settlement continues, political discourse has included discussions about policy and legislation that could impact future cases involving similar allegations of discrimination in the tech industry and beyond.
- The general news coverage of Google's settlement has highlighted the importance of finance management in ensuring fair pay, opportunities, and advancement within businesses, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and transparency to promote equality and combat discrimination.
