Google to Pay $28 Million to Settle Racial Bias Lawsuit Over Pay Disparities
Google has agreed to a $28 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit alleging racial bias in pay and career advancement, the BBC reported Wednesday. The lawsuit, filed in 2021 by former employee Ana Cantu, accused the tech giant of placing Hispanic, Latino, Native American, and other minority workers in lower-paying roles compared to their white and Asian counterparts.
The lawsuit cited a leaked internal document revealing compensation disparities for similar work, reinforcing claims of systemic inequities. The settlement, covering at least 6,632 employees who worked at Google between February 15, 2018, and December 31, 2024, has received preliminary approval from a California judge. While denying wrongdoing, Google stated it had “reached a resolution” and remains committed to fair pay, hiring, and promotions.
This case comes amid a wider corporate shift in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon have scaled back DEI initiatives, while US President Donald Trump has pushed to eliminate such programs in government agencies and federal contractors.
