Google has agreed to pay $28 million to resolve a class action lawsuit claiming that white and Asian employees supported white and Asian employees by gaining a higher career track than other workers.
The agreement with the Alphabet squad Google won preliminary approval last week from Judge Charles Adams of Santa Clara County Superior Court in California.
He called a settlement fair for “good results for the class” of at least 6,632 Google employees in California from February 15, 2018 to December 31, 2024.
Google spokesman Courtenay Mencini confirmed the settlement on Tuesday, but said “we continue to agree with allegations that we treat someone differently and continue to commit to paying, hiring and leveling all our employees.”
The lawsuit was led by Ana Cantu, who identifies him as Mexican and racial Indigenous peoples, on behalf of Hispanic, Latinku, Indigenous, Native Americans, American Indians, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islands and Alaska Native employees.
Cantu said that despite seven years of model work in Google's People's Business and Cloud sector, struggling at the same level of duty, his white and Asian peers got extra salaries and promotions.
Cantu said the Mountain View, California-based company has “leveled” jobs that are higher than other employees, even in the same job, withholding and promotions from disgruntled people.
Cantu said Google's actions violate California's Equal Pay Act. She left Google in September 2021.
Adams said the settlement came after Cantu's lawyers agreed this month to exclude black employees from the proposed class Google had been seeking.
The net settlement totals $20 million, and after deducting $7 million on legal costs, the penalty relating to Cantu's claim under California. General Act on Civil Lawyersand other costs.
Adams had scheduled a Sept. 11 hearing to consider approval of the final settlement.
Cantu's lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
Cases include Cantu v Google LLC et al, California Superior Court, Santa Clara County, No. This is 21CV392049.
