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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

#121

Post by bobloblaw45 »

koverda wrote: post #104
justaj wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm 35. I've yet to learn a programming language. I've always been intimidated by starting and choosing a language. I've started to loosen up regarding that and finally finding a path I could take. However, instead now I'm intimidated by the job market and age discrimination.

You can always find an excuse.

I feel if they're learning strictly to find work and it's not something they do for fun then it's a legitimate concern due to time it takes to learn to get to an employable level. As you get older you need to be more smart with how you spend your time.

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

#122

Post by gregfjohnson »

riku_iki wrote: post #50
typon wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm much younger than you, but I also interviewed with Google last year, got rejected after on-site, apparently a "close call" too. Did you grind leetcode enough? ;)

What signal gave you "close call" impression?..

(A quick note/disclaimer: I am extremely happy in my current situation, and work for a great manager; no interest in moving, despite my flippant comment.)

The signal was what I was told when I got a subsequent unsolicited contact from a Google recruiter. She communicated this information to me verbally. (I believed her, and in retrospect still do. She was great during the whole process; never gave me the slightest indication that she was in any way deceptive or dishonest.)

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

#123

Post by rongenre »

redwards510 wrote: post #102
solotronics wrote: post #92

Will anything happen if you lie about your age on an application? I don't see how your age, race, or sex should be taken into consideration unless you are doing a job that requires strenous physical labor.

Even if you avoid providing your DOB, you almost always have to put the year you graduated college, and that makes it pretty easy to ballpark age.

I leave my graduation date off -- it's never been a problem.

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

#124

Post by DannyBee »

rchaud wrote: post #51
DannyBee wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Isn't it usually the defendants that attempt to drown the plaintiffs in discovery-related paperwork? This is an employment dispute, surely Google's own lawyers have a much better handle on the legalese of their own HR practices (and of labour laws in the state) than the plaintiffs?

These days, game playing happens on all sides.

(See, e.g., the Kevin Spacey lawsuit for a recent example in the news)

Again, the question is not who would win. It's whether it is worth winning.

Let me use a strong amount of hyperbole to try to make this part of the point.

Imagine a 3 year old challenges you to a fight. They are completely and totally adamant about it. You certainly could win. Is it worth winning? Or would it be better to try to give them ice cream and get them to stop bugging you. Now imagine this fight will take 5-7 years :)

Despite what random comments on hacker news say, these are basically settled on a regular basis as cost of doing business.

If they were arbitration (heresy, i know) or some other cheaper/less intensive method of dispute resolution, google would likely (and often does) fight it.

But court cases are just really expensive and time consuming. The average civil litigation takes 5-7 years to resolve.

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

#126

Post by obtino »

xiphias2 wrote: post #42
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…

It's great, that you got to interview stage. What I mostly found that most discrimination happens before someone gets to the interview phase, which makes sense, as it makes interviewing cheaper. Most old people don't learn as many new things as younger ones, which makes it harder for older people who do to get the chance to prove themselves.

Repeat these words to yourself when you're in the same situation one day. This is a prime example of ageism!

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

#127

Post by bjhkx »

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.

Why is this comment flagged but can be replied to and it's not hidden from view?

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

#128

Post by xiphias2 »

obtino wrote: post #126
xiphias2 wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's great, that you got to interview stage. What I mostly found that most discrimination happens before someone gets to the interview phase, which makes sense, as it makes interviewing cheaper. Most old people don't learn as many new things as younger ones, which makes it harder for older people who do to get the chance to prove themselves.

Repeat these words to yourself when you're in the same situation one day. This is a prime example of ageism!

I was in that situation, and had problems getting into company interviews....until I started using my connections

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

#129

Post by taurath »

grimjack00 wrote: post #110
taurath wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To some extent it could also be that you’re presenting as young? FWIW - My only concern with older folks is that they’re either jaded, stuck in their ways technologically, or obstinate towards being managed by people younger than them. Strong opinions held strongly is a net negative. This isn’t everyone or even a majority, but it’s quite a few.

> Strong opinions held strongly is a net negative. Strong opinions like your opinion on older folks?

I certainly could've and should've added a lot more context, or refrained from sending off a quick post without giving it more thought. I was trying to list the ways in which I've seen some programmers who happen to be older be a negative - not that anyone should make the assumption of any single older person, or that there's not equal or greater problems with younger people. Just different.

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

#130

Post by taurath »

sandino wrote: post #108
taurath wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To some extent it could also be that you’re presenting as young? FWIW - My only concern with older folks is that they’re either jaded, stuck in their ways technologically, or obstinate towards being managed by people younger than them. Strong opinions held strongly is a net negative. This isn’t everyone or even a majority, but it’s quite a few.

This isn’t everyone or even a majority, but it’s quite a few. In other words: not only is there no hard data behind this view; there isn't any (from a gut perspective) that much of a correlation -- but it's a strong opinion, strongly held nonetheless.

Its just an anecdote, not data, and it isn't an opinion I hold strongly! This is based on like 15 people.
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