In the United States, Google has agreed to pay $118 million to settle a class-action gender discrimination case involving approximately 15,500 women in 236 job categories. Since September 14, 2013, the plaintiffs Kelly Ellis, Holly Pease, Kelli Wisuri, and Heidi Lamar have worked at Google in California in a “covered position.” The gender discrimination class action lawsuit was filed in 2017. Google must also hire an impartial labour economist to assess its hiring practises and conduct pay equity research.
“In addition to monetary relief, the settlement mandates that an independent third-party expert examine Google’s leveling-at-hire processes and that an impartial labour economist examine Google’s pay equity studies,” plaintiffs’ law firms said in a statement.
Over the next three years, an external Settlement Monitor will oversee the post-settlement activity.
Plaintiffs think these programmes “will assist ensure that women are not paid less than their male counterparts who accomplish substantially identical work, and that Google’s challenged levelling procedures are equitable,” according to the lawsuit.
Ellis worked as a software engineer at Google’s Mountain View office for four years, rising to the position of senior manager before leaving.
Wisuri worked for Google for around 2.5 years in its Mountain View office in various roles, while Pease worked for Google for approximately 10.5 years in both Mountain View and Sunnyvale, holding multiple technical leadership responsibilities.
Plaintiff Lamar worked at Google’s Children Center in Palo Alto for four years as a preschool teacher and infant/toddler teacher.
“As a woman who has spent her whole career in the tech business,” Pease said, “I’m encouraged that the changes Google has promised to do as part of this settlement will assure more equity for women.”
The court will now schedule a hearing for preliminary settlement approval, after which the third-party administrator will notify class members.