Google ordered to pay female executive $1m for gender bias

Google denies any allegations of gender discrimination or retaliation against Ulku Rowe

In a groundbreaking case, Google has been instructed by a jury to compensate senior executive Ulku Rowe with a sum exceeding $1 million, after the jury concluded that the tech giant treated her unfairly based on her gender.

As reported by Bloomberg Law, the decision, arrived at after more than five hours of deliberation, requires Google to pay Rowe $150,000 for the distress caused by the biased treatment, in addition to $1 million in punitive damages.

This lawsuit marks the first instance of pay discrimination proceedings against Google subsequent to the company's highly publicised employee walkouts in 2018, during which concerns regarding the handling of sexual misconduct allegations against top executives were vehemently raised.

The trial

During the trial, Google defended its position by asserting that Rowe, currently serving as the director of engineering at Google Cloud, was subject to the same performance criteria and opportunities as her male colleagues, despite her claims to the contrary.

The defence further emphasised that Rowe's remuneration was determined by her performance, and while it fluctuated over the years, it was comparable to that of other directors. Additionally, it was argued that Rowe's initial employment was at level eight, in line with her experience in the financial services and technology sector, and not indicative of any discriminatory practices.

Rowe's accusations included claims that she was hired at a lower level compared to male colleagues with less experience, leading to a discrepancy in compensation.

She alleged she was denied a promotion that was rightfully hers, which was instead granted to a less qualified male employee.

The jury's ruling

According to the jury's ruling, however, Rowe failed to demonstrate that Google paid her less than at least two of her male colleagues, which would have constituted a violation of New York law.

However, it did find Google's unfair treatment had caused Rowe pain and suffering and said it should pay her $150,000 compensation plus $1 million in damages.

Rowe's legal counsel, Gregory Chiarello of Outten & Golden LLP, contended that Google not only undervalued her during the hiring process but also retaliated against her by demoting her when she raised concerns about discrimination within the company.

Chiarello emphasised the significance of the case in holding Google accountable for its treatment and compensation of women in the technology industry.

Google, in response, emphasised that the jury found no evidence to suggest that Rowe was paid less than her male counterparts, and denied any allegations of gender discrimination or retaliation against her.

New York's Equal Pay Act

The lawsuit was filed under the New York Equal Pay Act, which mandates equal opportunity rather than equal outcomes in terms of compensation.

The case is identified as Rowe v. Google, S.D.N.Y., No. 1:19-cv-08655, 10/20/23.