Google agrees to pay $50 million to settle Black employees' racial bias lawsuit

Google has agreed to pay $50 million to settle a lawsuit alleging systemic racial bias against Black employees.

The preliminary settlement, filed in federal court in Oakland, California, covers more than 4,000 employees in California and New York and remains subject to judicial approval.

Plaintiffs in the proposed class action alleged that Google has a racially biased corporate culture in which Black employees were steered toward lower-level roles, paid less, given lower performance ratings, and offered fewer opportunities for advancement.

"We strongly disagree with the allegations that we treated anyone improperly and we remain committed to paying, hiring and leveling all employees consistently," Google spokeswoman Courtenay Mencini said in an emailed statement.

The lawsuit was filed in March 2022 after the agency now known as the California Civil Rights Department began examining Google’s treatment of Black female employees.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs may seek up to $12.5 million of the settlement fund in fees. The lawyers dismissed related claims brought on behalf of job applicants, citing evidence they had gathered and Google's "reasoned arguments."

The case is Curley et al v Google LLC, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 22-01735.