Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

News & Analysis Policies & Forms Your Library Attorney Network
News & Analysis Policies & Forms Your Library Attorney Network

User account menu

Sign in Get Started
x

You're signed out

Sign in to access subscriber actions.

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

July 2025 employment law letter
Authors: 

Michelle E. Gaston, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC

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

Continue reading your article with a HRLaws membership
  • Sign in
  • Sign up
Upgrade to a subscription now
to get unlimited access to everything on HR Laws.
Start subscription
Any time

Publications

  • Employment Law Letter
  • Employers State Law Alert
  • Federal Employment Law Insider

Your Library Reading List

Reading list 6
Creating List 7
Testing

Let's manage your states

We'll keep you updated on state changes

Manage States
© 2025
BLR®, A DIVISION OF SIMPLIFY COMPLIANCE LLC | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Footer - Copyright

  • terms
  • legal
  • privacy