Google Settles $50M Lawsuit That Alleges Bias Toward Over 4,000 Black Employees

A racial bias lawsuit has been settled by Google.

According to Reuters, the tech giant had been accused of racial bias against more than 4,000 Black employees in California and New York. Plaintiffs in a proposed 2022 class action lawsuit—stemming from the California Civil Rights Department—claimed that management provided opportunities only for lower-ranked roles, compensated them less, gave lower performance ratings, and denied them opportunities for advancement within the company. They described Google as having a “racially biased corporate culture.”

These patterns led April Curley, who no longer works at Google, to file a lawsuit in federal court in San Jose, CA, notes the Los Angeles Times. Curley had been with Google for six years, and her responsibilities included establishing recruiting programs in partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities. However, she and other Black women were allegedly not allowed to present during company meetings, and she claimed she was characterized as an “angry” Black woman and terminated from her role without reasonable cause after speaking up about Google’s work environment.

As for other Black employees, complaints included being told they were not “Googley” enough. Additionally, they stated Google’s workforce consisted of only 4.4% Black employees, and at the leadership level, that number dropped to 3%, Reuters mentions.

Google has settled for $50 million but has not admitted to mistreatment of Black employees.

“We’ve reached an agreement that involves no admission of wrongdoing. We strongly disagree with the allegations that we treated anyone improperly and we remain committed to paying, hiring, and leveling all employees consistently,” Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini said in a statement on May 13, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Looking ahead, Google set a three-year goal to reexamine its pay structure and make adjustments based on race. The company also stated it will be transparent regarding salaries and will put appropriate measures in place for employees to report concerns about compensation or company culture.