Google will pay USD 2.6 million to more than 5,500 employees to close a 4 year old case following allegations that it discriminated female engineers and Asians in California and Washington state.
This issue was brought before the Labour Department and settled. At first, Google had denied all the allegations before reaching the settlement.
The main allegation was about pay discrimination during a period spanning from 2014 to 2017, Google paid female engineers less than men in similar positions. This discrimination was cited in several Google offices in its home state of California, as well as at locations in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. An enquiry was done based on these allegations.
Google said that they believe everyone should be paid based upon the work they do, not who they are and also said it has conducted internal audits during the past years to address any inequities in the pay of its male and female employees.
The settlement will require Google to pay USD 1.35 million to more than 2,500 of its female engineers to compensate them for the past discrimination alleged by the Labour Department. Another USD 1.23 million has to be paid to 1,700 women and Asians who unsuccessfully applied for engineering jobs at Google.
This allegation has tarnished Google’s reputation as an employer that pampers its workers to the point with good pay, free food and many perks.
