Google sued over sexual discrimination by 3 female ex-employees
Three female former Google employees have sued the tech giant, accusing it of paying women less than men for comparable work. The suit alleges that Google has done nothing to fix the situation despite being aware of it. It comes amid an increased scrutiny of Silicon Valley companies on gender relations. The US Department of Labor is investigating Google over its pay practices.
The lawsuit alleges that Google discriminates against female employees by offering lower pay, fewer promotions and advancement opportunities as compared to men having equivalent qualifications. The lawsuit is seeking class-action status to cover all women who worked at Google over the past five years. The complainants are seeking unpaid wages, among other things.
Kelly Ellis was hired by Google in 2010 at a position normally assigned to college graduates, despite having four years of experience. In her lawsuit, she alleges that a male colleague having similar experience was offered a higher position. Ellis resigned from Google after working there for four years "because of the sexist culture."
Google said it disagrees with the lawsuit's "central allegations." A Google spokesperson said: "Job levels and promotions are determined through rigorous hiring and promotion committees, and must pass multiple levels of review, including checks to make sure there is no gender bias in these decisions."
Like several other Silicon Valley companies, Google has faced criticism over the lack of gender parity. Around 70% of Google's overall workforce comprises of men. Around 80% of all tech roles and 75% of leadership positions are handled by men. During a 2015 audit, the Department of Labor found systematic pay disparities. In January, the US government sued Google to access more pay data.
