Google has agreed to pay $2.6 million to women and Asian workers to settle a discrimination case, according to the Department of Labor.
An audit discovered that Google failed to comply with a 1965 executive order prohibiting companies from discrimination in its dealings with federal contractors. The Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) found evidence(PDF) of discrimination against both women and Asian contractors.
OFCCP alleges that it identified preliminary indicators that Google paid its female employees (2,783) in the Software Engineering Job Family at the Company’s Mountain View (9/1/14 and 9/1/15), Seattle (9/1/17), and Kirkland (9/1/17) establishments less than comparable male employees.
OFCCP alleges that it identified preliminary indicators of hiring rate differences disadvantaging female (shortfall 112) and Asian (shortfall 72) applicants for software engineering positions.
Google has agreed to pay roughly $2.6 million in back wages to settle the issue.
“We believe everyone should be paid based upon the work they do, not who they are, and invest heavily to make our hiring and compensation processes fair and unbiased,” Google spokesperson Jennifer Rodstrom told Business Insider.
“For the past eight years, we have run annual internal pay equity analysis to identify and address any discrepancies. We’re pleased to have resolved this matter related to allegations from the 2014-2017 audits and remain committed to diversity and equity and to supporting our people in a way that allows them to do their best work,” Rodstrom added.