Do Son 
In 2021, former Google employee Ana Cantu exposed a troubling facet of the tech giant’s hiring practices. An internal document, later leaked to the media, revealed that the company systematically discriminated against candidates of Latin American, Hispanic, and Indigenous descent during recruitment. These applicants were routinely offered lower-ranking positions and reduced salaries compared to their white and Asian counterparts performing identical roles. Compounding the issue, Google relied heavily on candidates’ previous salaries to determine initial compensation and job level—further entrenching longstanding ethnic wage disparities.
The lawsuit was joined by 6,632 current and former Google employees who worked at the company between February 2018 and December 2024. Plaintiffs’ attorney, Katie Coble, emphasized the pivotal role played by the workers themselves—those who had experienced discrimination and the colleagues who stood beside them. Their decision to share salary data with journalists brought the matter into public view and fueled the quest for accountability.
Judge Charles Adams of the Santa Clara County Superior Court in California gave preliminary approval to a $28 million settlement (approximately £21.5 million). While Google agreed to the payout, it continued to deny any wrongdoing. “We do not agree that anyone was treated differently,” a company spokesperson told reporters. “We remain committed to ensuring equitable hiring, compensation, and career advancement for all employees.”
This legal reckoning comes at a turbulent moment for corporate America. In early 2024, major U.S. companies began scaling back diversity initiatives in hiring. Meta*, Amazon, Pepsi, McDonald’s, and Walmart have already dismantled their DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs. Now, Google appears to be following suit.
The reversal coincides with mounting political pressure. Former President Donald Trump and his supporters have been vocal critics of DEI programs, and with his return to the White House, such initiatives have been banned altogether in federal agencies and among government contractors.
ddos-admin 