Google pays $50M to settle allegations of ‘racially biased corporate structure’

In September 2024, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released the report “High Tech, Low Inclusion: Diversity in the High Tech Workforce and Sector From 2014-2022,” which highlighted demographic disparities for workers in 56 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations and their hiring industries.

Only eight months later, Google agreed to pay $50 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging racial bias.

Hired to design recruiting program, alleges hazing and discrimination

In 2022, April Curley filed a lawsuit on behalf of herself and those similarly situated alleging she was hired in 2014, subjected to a hostile work environment, and wrongfully terminated in 2020.

According to the lawsuit, she was hired to design a recruiting program aimed at historically Black colleges and universities, but the candidates were said not to be “googly” enough and were hazed. She accused Google of hiring few Black employees, steering Black employees into lower-level jobs, paying Black employees less, and denying Black employees advancement and leadership roles because of their race.

Settlements consistent with EEOC report