Google Agrees to $28 Million Bias Settlement Impacting 6,600 Employees

Google has agreed to a $28 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit claiming it discriminated against Hispanic, Latino, Native American, and other non-white employees in pay and promotions. The lawsuit, filed by former employee Ana Cantu in 2021, alleged that employees from these backgrounds were assigned lower salaries and job levels compared to their white and Asian counterparts, violating the California Equal Pay Act. Cantu's claims were supported by a leaked internal document that indicated pay disparities for similar roles. While Google denies any wrongdoing, they reached the settlement to avoid prolonged litigation. A judge has preliminarily approved the settlement, which will benefit over 6,600 affected employees. This case raises broader questions about accountability and equality in tech industry hiring practices.