Google agrees to pay $28m over racial bias case

Google has agreed to pay $28m (£21.55m) to settle a lawsuit that claimed white and Asian workers got higher pay and profession alternatives than employees from different ethnic backgrounds, a legislation agency representing claimants says.

The know-how big confirmed it had “reached a decision” however rejected the allegations made in opposition to it.

The case filed in 2021 by former worker, Ana Cantu, stated employees from Hispanic, Latino, Native American and different backgrounds began on decrease salaries and job ranges than their white and Asian counterparts.

The settlement has been given preliminary approval by Choose Charles Adams of the Santa Clara County Superior Courtroom in California.

The case introduced by Ms Cantu in opposition to Google relied on a leaked inner doc, which allegedly confirmed that workers from some ethnic backgrounds reported decrease compensation for comparable work.

The observe of basing beginning pay and job stage on prior salaries bolstered historic race and ethnicity-based disparities, in line with Ms Cantu’s attorneys.

The category motion lawsuit was filed for no less than 6,632 individuals who have been employed by Google between 15 February 2018 and 31 December 2024, in line with Reuters information company.

Cathy Coble, one of many attorneys representing them, praised the “bravery of each the various and ally Googlers who self-reported their pay and leaked that information to the media”.

“Suspected pay inequity is just too simply hid with out this type of collective motion from workers,” Ms Coble added.

The know-how big denied that it had discriminated in opposition to any of its workers.

“We reached a decision, however proceed to disagree with the allegations that we handled anybody in a different way, and stay dedicated to paying, hiring, and levelling all workers pretty,” a Google spokesperson instructed the BBC.

Earlier this yr, Google joined a rising checklist of US corporations which can be abandoning commitments to rules of variety, fairness, and inclusion (DEI) of their recruitment insurance policies.

Meta, Amazon, Pepsi, McDonald’s, Walmart and others have additionally rolled again their DEI programmes.

It comes as US President Donald Trump and his allies have repeatedly attacked DEI insurance policies.

Since his return to the White Home, Trump has ordered authorities companies and their contractors to eradicate such initiatives.