Google has agreed to pay $28 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging racial bias in pay and career advancement. The lawsuit claimed that the tech giant favored white and Asian employees over Hispanic, Latino, Indigenous, Native American, and other minority workers.
The agreement, which covers over 6,600 current and former Google employees in California, received preliminary approval from Judge Charles Adams of the Santa Clara County Superior Court. The settlement addresses claims from February 2018 to December 2024.
Allegations of Discrimination
The case was spearheaded by Ana Cantu, a former Google employee of Mexican and Indigenous descent. Cantu worked in the company’s people operations and cloud departments for seven years. Despite her strong performance, she alleged she was consistently overlooked for promotions and pay raises, while her white and Asian colleagues advanced faster.
According to the lawsuit, Google systematically placed white and Asian employees in higher job levels even when performing similar tasks. Additionally, Cantu claimed that those who raised concerns about unequal treatment faced retaliation through withheld promotions and raises.
The complaint argued that Google’s actions violated California’s Equal Pay Act, which mandates fair compensation regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender. Cantu resigned from Google in September 2021.
Google Maintains Denial
While agreeing to the settlement, Google has not admitted to any wrongdoing. A company spokesperson reaffirmed Google’s commitment to equitable pay and opportunities for all employees.
“We continue to disagree with the allegations that we treated anyone unfairly and remain committed to paying, hiring, and leveling all employees fairly,” the spokesperson said.
Exclusion of Black Employees
One notable aspect of the case was the exclusion of Black employees from the class action. Earlier this month, Cantu’s legal team agreed to Google’s request to omit Black employees from the lawsuit. The specific reasoning behind this decision was not publicly disclosed.
Financial Breakdown and Next Steps
After deductions for legal fees and other expenses, approximately $20.4 million will be distributed among eligible employees. This includes $7 million allocated for attorney fees and penalties under California’s Private Attorneys General Act.
Judge Adams has scheduled a final approval hearing for September. If approved, the settlement will mark the resolution of one of the most prominent workplace discrimination cases faced by Google.
Cantu’s attorneys have not yet responded to requests for comment.
