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Google pays $11M to job-seekers who alleged age discrimination

theguardian.com

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Re: Google pays $11M to job-seekers who alleged age discrimination

#31

Post by sjg007 »

dvtrn wrote: post #3

Although it has settled the case, Google denies the allegations that it was unfairly dismissive of older applicants. Why is Google still making denials and statements after settling the action?

They settled and deny wrongdoing to limit the impact. Now we have to wait for another set of age discrimination lawsuits to get more info about Google's practices... or we have to wait for the Government to get involved. Settling, basically tries to get the fire out before the Government decides to see what is going on. Given that Google has a hiring committee that reviews all applicants, this doesn't look good for Google... It'd be hard to argue that it's just a few managers and that it isn't a systematic issue rather than an "unconscious bias". Any company arguing "culture fit" in hiring decisions is making a poor argument. It's also hypocritical when they state that they want "diversity" in opinions, workers, etc...

We may also get more insight if/when Google goes after Federal contracts which have reporting requirements and stronger applicant protections.

Re: Google pays $11M to job-seekers who alleged age discrimination

#32

Post by warunsl »

panpanna wrote: post #19
dvtrn wrote: post #3

Although it has settled the case, Google denies the allegations that it was unfairly dismissive of older applicants. Why is Google still making denials and statements after settling the action?

Because last time Google denied doing something like this it turned out there was a paper trail all the way to the CEO. (The top email basically said: why are you emailing me this. This is illegal. Don't create a paper trail!!)

Source?

Re: Google pays $11M to job-seekers who alleged age discrimination

#33

Post by ApolloFortyNine »

rchaud wrote: post #15
cheeze wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because sometimes it's cheaper to settle, even if you didn't do something.

Google has salaried in-house counsel. I'm pretty sure they could afford to go to court more easily than the plaintiffs.

Sure, but if you get a judge that decides that the penalty should be salary from the time you were interviewed to the settlement date for each of the plaintiffs, the cost could be many times higher. Not to mention this simply won't look good in the public spotlight, regardless of how right Google may be.

It's also almost impossible to prove on both sides. Even if Google has insane numbers showing how many young vs old people they hire, it's totally possible that the younger ones are simply more experienced with the technologies/paradigms Google is looking for. A judge might not see it the same way though.

Re: Google pays $11M to job-seekers who alleged age discrimination

#34

Post by jonas21 »

mbrumlow wrote: post #2

Why are these numbers so small? Even more so to the fine for data protection violations. The point of these sort of things are to make companies think twice. While 11m is a lot of cash it is nothing compared to Google's total income, and would not even been half a years salary for those they refused to hire. Seems like they got let off easy on this one.

This is just speculation, but...

The plaintiffs may have settled because they thought it was unlikely they would prevail if this went to trial, so it would be better take a guaranteed payout.

Google may have settled because they figured that the PR hit of a lengthy age discrimination trial would be worth more than $11M, regardless of whether they won.

Re: Google pays $11M to job-seekers who alleged age discrimination

#35

Post by paxys »

dvtrn wrote: post #3

Although it has settled the case, Google denies the allegations that it was unfairly dismissive of older applicants. Why is Google still making denials and statements after settling the action?

That's the entire point of settling vs going to trial. The problem goes away and they don't have to admit to anything. They also make the plaintiffs sign lengthy NDAs to prevent them from saying anything about it.

Re: Google pays $11M to job-seekers who alleged age discrimination

#36

Post by sjg007 »

kevinherron wrote: post #29
throwaway6hhgxx wrote: post #26

Throwaway because I work at Google. I interviewed Cheryl Fillekes twice. I did not know her age, and it did not matter. Her issue was incompetence. One of the very few "strong no hire" ratings I ever gave out.

> Throwaway because I work at Google. I interviewed Cheryl Fillekes twice. I did not know her age, and it did not matter. He issue was incompetence. One of the very few "strong no hire" ratings I ever gave out. Why bother with a throwaway... sounds like you've narrowed it down pretty well if ever investigated.

The OP got flagged, so I will post here. -- Assuming what you say is true, it seems odd Google would have you interview the same person twice. It also seems statistically unlikely that they would get the same interviewer, unless the role was specialized. But then why would she have been interviewed 4 separate times? It's also weird that you are writing about it here.. I would assume you'd have been told not to discuss it and are probably bound by the settlement to not discuss it either. Remind us of what the definition of incompetence is?

Re: Google pays $11M to job-seekers who alleged age discrimination

#37

Post by zippy »

panpanna wrote: post #19
dvtrn wrote: post #3

Although it has settled the case, Google denies the allegations that it was unfairly dismissive of older applicants. Why is Google still making denials and statements after settling the action?

Because last time Google denied doing something like this it turned out there was a paper trail all the way to the CEO. (The top email basically said: why are you emailing me this. This is illegal. Don't create a paper trail!!)

Google has a history of age discrimination and losing in court, going back to the founders of the company.

See Reid v Google where Brian Reid, a key developer of the tech we use, was told his ideas "were too old to matter" and that he was an "old fuddy duddy."

Google fought it and lost.

https://www.law.com/therecorder/almID/1202464321723/?slretur...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Reid_(computer_scientist...

Re: Google pays $11M to job-seekers who alleged age discrimination

#38

Post by panpanna »

warunsl wrote: post #32
panpanna wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because last time Google denied doing something like this it turned out there was a paper trail all the way to the CEO. (The top email basically said: why are you emailing me this. This is illegal. Don't create a paper trail!!)

Source?

https://pando.com/2014/03/22/revealed-apple-and-googles-wage...

Another fun fact from that lawsuit: Steve Jobs threatened Palm with a patent war if they didn't join the cartel. Oh, it was a fun time to work in the valley...

Re: Google pays $11M to job-seekers who alleged age discrimination

#39

Post by DannyBee »

rchaud wrote: post #15
cheeze wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because sometimes it's cheaper to settle, even if you didn't do something.

Google has salaried in-house counsel. I'm pretty sure they could afford to go to court more easily than the plaintiffs.

I think you significantly underestimate the cost of discovery/wasting time of non-legal folks.

Re: Google pays $11M to job-seekers who alleged age discrimination

#40

Post by moflome »

gregfjohnson wrote: post #21

Tangentially related: I just turned 65, and am continuing to immensely enjoy programming. Current job involves embedded digital signal processing in medical devices. My family came up with a new name for my category of programmers: the gerihacktric demographic.. :-) I have interviewed with Alphabet twice, no offers. One time apparently it was a close call.. It would be fun to be the all-time record holder for oldest…

Love it. Have found that the closer you get to hardware groups at any of the FAANG's, the higher the average age. Met several happily employed grandparents in the groups, adding value and telling the best stories.
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