Google Settles Lawsuit, Agrees to Pay $28 Million Over Racial Discrimination Claims Against Non-White and Asian Employees

Google has agreed to pay $28 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the tech behemoth of sending better pay and career progression opportunities for white and Asian employees. The preliminary approval has been granted by Judge Charles Adams of the Santa Clara County Superior Court to the class-action lawsuit claiming that Google treated other races unfairly.

This settlement is in favor of at least 6,632 current and former Google employees based in California and would cover the period between February 15, 2018, to December 31, 2024. The associate added that Google will deny the allegations but confirmed that a deal was reached. “We continue to disagree with the allegations that we treated anyone differently,” Mencini said. “We remain committed to paying, hiring, and leveling all employees fairly.”

A former Google employee – Ana Cantu – lodged a suit claiming to identify herself as Mexican and racially Indigenous. Cantu worked with Google in the people operations and cloud departments for approximately seven years. Cantu claimed that regardless of being a very good performer, she was stuck at the same level while her white and Asian counterparts continued to make significantly higher levels and benefited from promotions. Stated that this practice was systematic and they made exceptions for white and Asian employees to be placed in much higher job “levels” and then just denied any kind of raises or promotions to people that “would raise a complaint”.

Cantu’s attorney contended that this practice is a direct violation of the California Equal Pay Act. Cantu resigned from the company in September 2021. Out of the settlement, $7 million will be deducted as legal fees, penalties, and other costs to bring the net proceeds to $20.4 million. Though Google had originally wished to exclude Black employees from the class, earlier this month, lawyers representing Cantu agreed to remove them from the suit.

A judge has scheduled the final approval hearing for the settlement with Judge Adams on September 11.