Google to Pay $28M to Settle Workplace Discrimination Lawsuit

Google has agreed to pay $28 million (£21.5 million) to settle a lawsuit that alleged the company favored white and Asian employees over workers from other ethnic backgrounds in pay and career advancement.

The lawsuit, filed in 2021 by former Google employee Ana Cantu, claimed that Hispanic, Latino, Native American, and other underrepresented employees were hired at lower salaries and job levels compared to their white and Asian counterparts. The case was based on a leaked internal document that allegedly showed employees from certain ethnic groups received lower compensation for similar work.

The settlement, which covers at least 6,632 employees who worked at Google between February 15, 2018, and December 31, 2024, has received preliminary approval from Judge Charles Adams of the Santa Clara County Superior Court in California.

Ms. Cantu’s lawyers argued that Google’s practice of determining starting salaries and job levels based on previous pay reinforced existing racial and ethnic pay disparities. Attorney Cathy Coble, who represented the plaintiffs, commended the employees who came forward, stating that suspected pay inequities often go unnoticed without collective action.

Despite agreeing to the settlement, Google denied any wrongdoing. A company spokesperson told the BBC, “We reached a resolution but continue to disagree with the allegations that we treated anyone differently. We remain committed to paying, hiring, and leveling all employees fairly.”

The settlement comes as major U.S. corporations, including Google, have started rolling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Other companies such as Meta, Amazon, Pepsi, McDonald’s, and Walmart have also scaled back DEI initiatives in response to growing political opposition.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his allies have been vocal critics of DEI policies, arguing they create unfair advantages. Since returning to office, Trump has ordered government agencies and contractors to eliminate such programs, further fueling the shift in corporate hiring practices