Google has agreed to pay $28 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged racial bias in its hiring and pay practices. The tech giant, however, denied any wrongdoing and maintained that it treats all employees fairly.
The lawsuit, filed in 2021 by former Google employee Ana Cantu, claimed that Hispanic, Latino, Native American, and other minority workers were systematically placed in lower-paying positions than their white and Asian counterparts. The case relied on leaked internal documents, which allegedly showed pay disparities among employees performing similar work.
Judge Charles Adams of the Santa Clara County Superior Court in California has given preliminary approval for the settlement, which covers at least 6,632 employees who worked at Google between February 15, 2018, and December 31, 2024, according to Reuters.
Cathy Coble, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, commended the employees who came forward to report pay inequities and leak internal data. “Suspected pay inequity is too easily concealed without this kind of collective action from employees,” she said.
Despite agreeing to the settlement, Google maintains that it has not engaged in discriminatory practices. “We reached a resolution, but continue to disagree with the allegations that we treated anyone differently, and remain committed to paying, hiring, and levelling all employees fairly,” a Google spokesperson told the BBC.
This case comes amid a broader shift in corporate America, where major companies are rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Earlier this year, Google joined firms like Meta, Amazon, Pepsi, McDonald’s, and Walmart in scaling back DEI programs. The trend aligns with increasing political pressure, particularly from US President Donald Trump and his allies, who have openly criticized DEI policies. Since his return to the White House, Trump has ordered government agencies and contractors to dismantle such initiatives.
The settlement marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate over pay equity and corporate diversity efforts. While some view it as a step toward accountability, others see it as a reflection of the diminishing emphasis on workplace diversity in the US.
