Latest news with #AprilCurley
Forbes
24-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The High Cost of Anti-Blackness: Lessons from Google's $50M Case
Google settled a $50 million lawsuit by Black employees who alleged racial bias at the company. Recently, Google settled a $50 million lawsuit by Black employees who alleged racial bias at the company. The settlement included over 4,000 Google employees in California and New York, with plaintiffs making the case that Google kept Black employees in lower-level jobs, paid them less, lowered their performance ratings and prevented Black employees from advancement. The lead plaintiff, a Black woman named April Curley, alleged that Google hired her for outreach to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). While at the company, Curley claimed that Google prevented her from advancing, labeled her as an 'angry' Black woman and then fired her after a six-year tenure, as she was developing a report on racial bias at the company. In the class-action lawsuit filed by Curley and other Black employees, the complaint alleges that managers disparaged Black employees who were not 'Googley' enough, kept Black workers in lower-level jobs, paid them lower wages and subjected them to hostile comments. In addition, Curley claimed that Google kept her in a job that was not at a comparable seniority level based on her background and experience. Curley also alleged that Google didn't promote her or provide her with merit pay increases despite her 'stellar qualifications and performance.' She claimed that Google was reluctant to hire Black talent and subjected them to more rigorous hiring practices compared to their counterparts, asking Black candidates questions unrelated to the role they were applying for, to damage their interview evaluations. This is not the first time Google has been accused of discrimination. In 2021, Google agreed to pay $3.8 million to 5,500 employees and applicants in California and Washington state due to pay discrimination. Pay disparities were identified for female employees in engineering positions, as well as Asian females applying for software engineering positions. When there is more transparency and objectivity around workplace practices, this can lessen the ... More likelihood of employees leaning on their own personal biases to make workplace decisions. There are several steps that Google should take to prevent these types of situations from happening in the future; the first is frequent pay audits. It is unclear how often Google and other organizations conduct pay audits, but this is a practice that should be done regularly to address and rectify pay disparities across different populations. In addition, to mitigate systemic inequities, organizations should implement more objective processes into the workplace. This means introducing scorecards and rubrics for different workplace practices including recruitment, interviews, hiring and selection, and for advancement and promotion processes. When there is more transparency and objectivity around workplace practices, this can lessen the likelihood of employees leaning on their own personal biases to make workplace decisions. Despite the pervasive anti-DEI backlash, all companies must think about ways to implement frequent and ongoing education to ensure employees understand issues like racial bias and stereotyping, in order to mitigate workplace discrimination. Do employees, for example, understand how the angry Black woman stereotype shows up in the workplace? Do managers understand anti-blackness and how it can show up in decision-making? How do employees from marginalized communities internalize negative stereotypes about their own communities and how does this impact behaviors? Is everyone in the workplace aware of tone-policing and how it can manifest? Employees should be well-equipped with this knowledge and understanding beyond just a one-time workshop—education should be consistent and ongoing. In the current climate, it's important and necessary to stay abreast of all DEI-related news, particularly as it pertains to executive orders around DEI. Despite the DEI backlash, there are still many steps corporations can legally take to ensure that equity and fairness are cornerstones of the organization. There are steps that every organization should take to build an equitable workplace for Black employees. Understand that Blackness is not a monolith—frequently solicit feedback from Black employees to understand their experiences and parse out the data from employee surveys and exit interviews to better understand Black employee experiences. Frequently solicit feedback from Black employees to understand their experiences. Conduct an audit of your practices to ensure objectivity is embedded into workplace systems and consider different ways to hold leaders accountable for cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment. This could look like fairness, equity, and inclusivity ratings being part of leadership performance evaluations. Also consider integrating anonymous reporting systems into the workplace to better address issues of bias and unfairness before they snowball into bigger issues. Anti-blackness is a widespread issue in many workplaces. For Black employees who have experienced racial bias or discrimination, there are several steps that can be taken. It's important to document any incidents of discrimination. Employees can also try to find internal support networks to lean on, whether that is an employee resource group, a trusted leader or a fellow colleague. Consider consulting with external support networks for advice and guidance, which can include a mentor, a friend or legal professionals who specialize in workplace discrimination. Lastly, it's important to know your rights as an employee. Familiarize yourself with state and federal laws to understand what protections you have against racial discrimination in the workplace.
Black America Web
22-05-2025
- Business
- Black America Web
Google Settles Lawsuit Alleging Anti-Black Bias For $50 Million
Source: picture alliance / Getty Look, I'm not saying all tech bros are racist, but I'm not, not saying it. I mean, the fact that Google recently agreed to settle a class action lawsuit alleging anti-Black bias at the company for $50 million doesn't help their case. It's not an admission of guilt, but it's certainly not a good look. According to Reuters, the civil suit was filed by April Curley, a former Google employee who was hired specifically to recruit new employees from historically Black colleges. Curley worked at Google for six years, and during her tenure there, she alleged that she and fellow Black employees were underpaid, denied opportunities for advancement, and stagnated doing lower-level work. Curley alleged she was given unfair performance ratings that stereotyped her as an 'angry Black woman' and was fired as she was in the process of reporting Google's alleged anti-Black bias. Curley and the other plaintiffs alleged that Black employees were frequently told they weren't 'Googley' enough and lacked 'Googleyness,' which they perceived as a racist dog whistle. It begs the question: how does one have an abundance of 'Googleyness?' What makes one 'Googley?' Why would one want to be 'Googley?' Personally, I'd rather have the swagger of Ask Jeeves than have some middle-aged white man call me 'Googley' as he sips a $20 smoothie from Erewhon From Reuters: Google, a unit of Mountain View, California-based Alphabet (GOOGL.O), denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle, and said it fully complied with all applicable laws. '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 on Friday. The lawsuit began in March 2022 after a regulator now known as the California Civil Rights Department started investigating Google's treatment of Black female employees. This isn't entirely surprising from the company that removed Black History Month from the Google Calendar earlier this year and donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund. So clearly Google isn't racist, y'all. They just bankroll racists, it's different. Source: Maksym Panchuk / EyeEm / Getty Racism in the tech industry is sadly nothing new. It's been over five years since the #SilliconValleySoWhite trend ignited the conversation around the lack of opportunity and racist attitudes Black tech workers have consistently faced in the industry. One of the anecdotes that emerged during those tweets was several Google employees alleging they faced a bias in badging, where white employees would demand to see their badge even if it was completely visible. Sounds like you have to be good at both coding and Karen-ing to work at Google. The racism in tech has also manifested through the waves of layoffs that have sadly become commonplace throughout the industry over the last three years. Despite making up only 6.05 percent of the tech workforce, Black tech workers represented 7.42 % of the people laid off in the industry. Even before the Trump administration's crackdown on DEI initiatives, departments at tech companies centered on diversifying the workforce were often the first to face cuts. The racism in tech isn't simply limited to alleged workplace interactions, as the algorithms perpetuated by Google generally favor alt-right, anti-woke content. Studies have shown that Google's YouTube platform is one of the leading causes for radicalization, and I totally understand how. I watch YouTube more than any other platform, and it's alarming how often the algorithm recommends alt-right gaming grifters offended at the concept of Black people existing. Especially since I watch a lot of Black and leftist content creators and consistently check the 'don't recommend' box whenever the usual suspects pop up. Yet still they persist. Which begs the question: Are those the folks Google believes are 'Googley?' Judging by how they're moving, it sure feels like it. SEE ALSO: Racial Bias: Audit Finds 36 In-Custody Deaths Should Be Labeled Homicides Trump's DOJ Thinks Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Hired Too Many Black People, So It Launched An Investigation SEE ALSO Google Settles Lawsuit Alleging Anti-Black Bias For $50 Million was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Google settles lawsuit alleging bias against Black employees
Google agreed to pay $50 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the search engine giant was racially biased against Black employees. The settlement, which was reached after mediation and certified by a U.S. District Court judge in Oakland on Friday, covers some 4,000 Google employees in California and New York. The original lawsuit came after a state agency, now known as the California Civil Rights Department, in 2021 began investigating Google's treatment of Black female workers. In 2022, former Google worker April Curley filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Jose alleging that she and other Black workers experienced systemic discrimination. Curley, who worked at Google for six years, had been hired to conduct outreach and design recruiting programs with historically Black colleges. However, her experience at the company quickly soured, she said, alleging that she was stereotyped as an "angry" Black woman, that she and other Black women had not been allowed to present during important meetings and that she was wrongfully terminated in 2020 after challenging internal practices. Black workers were hired to lower-level jobs, paid lower wages, subjected to hostile comments and denied promotions, Curley and other Black workers who joined the proposed class-action alleged in their lawsuit. The complaint said managers disparaged Black employees for not being "Googley" enough, comments the plaintiffs said served as racist dog whistles. Throughout the litigation, the Mountain View-based company has maintained that it did not violate any laws. "We've reached an agreement that involves no admission of wrongdoing. We strongly disagree with the allegations that we treated anyone improperly and we remain committed to paying, hiring, and leveling all employees consistently," Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini said in a statement Tuesday. In addition to the monetary payout, Google has agreed in the settlement to analyze pay and correct differences based on race for the next three years. The company has also committed to maintaining transparent salary ranges and methods for employees to report concerns about pay or other practices. And through August 2026, the company will not require employees to enter into mandatory arbitration for employment-related disputes, according to the settlement agreement filed last week in federal court. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Google settles lawsuit alleging bias against Black employees
Google agreed to pay $50 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the search engine giant was racially biased against Black employees. The settlement, which was reached after mediation and certified by a U.S. District Court judge in Oakland on Friday, covers some 4,000 Google employees in California and New York. The original lawsuit came after a state agency, now known as the California Civil Rights Department, in 2021 began investigating Google's treatment of Black female workers. In 2022, former Google worker April Curley filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Jose alleging that she and other Black workers experienced systemic discrimination. Curley, who worked at Google for six years, had been hired to conduct outreach and design recruiting programs with historically Black colleges. However, her experience at the company quickly soured, she said, alleging that she was stereotyped as an 'angry' Black woman, that she and other Black women had not been allowed to present during important meetings and that she was wrongfully terminated in 2020 after challenging internal practices. Black workers were hired to lower-level jobs, paid lower wages, subjected to hostile comments and denied promotions, Curley and other Black workers who joined the proposed class-action alleged in their lawsuit. The complaint said managers disparaged Black employees for not being 'Googley' enough, comments the plaintiffs said served as racist dog whistles. Throughout the litigation, the Mountain View-based company has maintained that it did not violate any laws. 'We've reached an agreement that involves no admission of wrongdoing. We strongly disagree with the allegations that we treated anyone improperly and we remain committed to paying, hiring, and leveling all employees consistently,' Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini said in a statement Tuesday. In addition to the monetary payout, Google has agreed in the settlement to analyze pay and correct differences based on race for the next three years. The company has also committed to maintaining transparent salary ranges and methods for employees to report concerns about pay or other practices. And through August 2026, the company will not require employees to enter into mandatory arbitration for employment-related disputes, according to the settlement agreement filed last week in federal court.
Miami Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Google to pay $50 million to settle lawsuit claiming it paid Black workers less
Google will pay $50 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing it of paying Black workers less. April Curley, a Black woman who worked at the Mountain View, California, digital-advertising giant from 2014 to 2022, claimed in her 2022 lawsuit that she was hired to recruit more Black workers but fired for pushing back against the firm's "racially biased corporate culture." The lawsuit filed in San Jose U.S. District Court alleged that Curley and other Black workers at Google were paid lower wages, denied advancement opportunities, and subjected to a hostile work environment on the basis of race. Lawyers for Curley and other plaintiffs revealed the settlement in a court filing Thursday, saying it arose out of "years of litigation and extensive arm's length negotiations." About 4,000 Black current and former Google employees will share in the settlement money, the filing said. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Under the agreement, Google will "continue to analyze pay to identify unexplained differences based on race," and will"maintain well-publicized methods for employees to report concerns related to the terms and conditions of their employment," the filing said. Google had in court filings opposed class-action status for the lawsuit, saying "thousands of mini-trials would be required to determine whether race played any role in any decision as to each putative class member." In March, Google agreed to pay more than 6,000 current and former Latino, Indigenous and Pacific Islander employees about $3,000 each, to settle a different class-action lawsuit claiming it paid White and Asian workers more. In 2022, Google agreed to pay $118 million to thousands of women to settle a lawsuit accusing it of putting female workers into lower salary levels than men, giving women lower-paying jobs, promoting women more slowly and less often, and generally paying female employees less than men for similar work. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
