About 15,500 employees had filed a class action lawsuit against technology giant Google and agreed to pay millions to settle it.
Google is willing to pay $ 170 million to settle a class action lawsuit for gender discrimination and pay equity that included about 15,500 employees.
The lawsuit began in 2017 after three women filed a lawsuit alleging that the company’s workers were paid poorly in violation of the California Equal Pay Act.
The U.S. case focused on 236 different jobs and challenged the technology giant’s pay processes when it came to paying men and women with similar roles, according to law firms Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP and Altshuler Berzon.
In a lawsuit, Google was accused of paying employees about $ 16,794 ($ 24,217) less per year compared to men in similar positions.
The case also alleged that Google had blocked women from lower career paths, resulting in lower salaries and lower bonuses compared to their male counterparts.
“As a woman who has spent her entire career in the technology industry, I am optimistic that the actions that Google has agreed to take as part of this agreement will ensure more equity for women,” said one of the women. who was part of the class. action, Holly Pease.
“Google has led the technology industry since its inception. They also have the opportunity to lead the position to ensure the inclusion and equity of women in technology.”
As part of the agreement, Google has agreed to incorporate an independent expert to analyze Google’s hiring practices and a labor economist to review the company’s pay equity studies, with oversight to continue for the next three years. .
Kelly Dermody, one of the advocates for class action, said women believe this agreement is advancing gender equity at Google and will be a precedent for the industry.
“Google has long been a technology leader. We are delighted that in this agreement and order, Google also affirms its commitment to being a leader in ensuring equal pay and equal employment opportunities for all its employees.” , added attorney Jim Finberg.
A Google spokesman said it was “absolutely committed to paying, hiring and leveling all employees fairly and equitably”.
“While we firmly believe in the fairness of our policies and practices, after nearly five years of litigation, both parties agreed that the resolution of the matter, without any admission or conclusion, was in the best interests of all. “We are very happy to reach this agreement,” he said The Virgin publication.
The Google agreement must be approved by a U.S. judge.
Last year, Google agreed to pay $ 2.5 million ($ 3.6 million) to more than 5,500 employees and job seekers who had been affected by alleged systematic pay and hiring discrimination. .
The U.S. Department of Labor found that 2,565 women software engineers were being paid poorly and that women were being given $ 1.3 million ($ 1.8 million) in wages and overdue interest.
He also identified “differences in recruitment rates that disadvantaged Asian women and applicants” for Google’s engineering positions, with $ 1.2 million ($ 1.7 million) in late payments and interest given to 1,757 engineering applicants and 1,219 Asian engineering applicants for “non-contracted positions”.
Google is currently being investigated by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing for allegations of harassment and discrimination against black employees.
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