Google has agreed to a $50 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit that accuses the tech giant of racial discrimination against Black employees. The deal, which still awaits court approval, could impact over 4,000 current and former staff members in California and New York.
The case was initiated by April Curley, a former employee who claimed that Black workers were routinely assigned to lower-level jobs, denied fair pay and promotions, and subjected to biased evaluations. Curley also alleged that she was fired shortly after raising concerns about internal disparities.
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Filed in a California federal court, the lawsuit shed light on Google’s diversity issues, revealing that only 4.4% of its workforce and just 3% of its leadership roles were held by Black employees in 2021.
While Google has not admitted any wrongdoing, the company chose to settle in order to avoid extended litigation. The payout includes provisions for legal fees, with lawyers expected to request up to $12.5 million.
