Some employers in Texas value a diverse workplace, but a new lawsuit filed against Google, Inc. highlights the challenges a company might face when considering race and gender during the hiring process. According to court papers filed on behalf of a former employee at YouTube, the tech giant created a clear policy against the hiring of white or Asian males.
The lawsuit alleges that the company called for the cancellation of interviews with white or Asian male software engineering candidates. Citing emails and other documentation, the court filings claim that the company purged “non-diverse” applicants from the hiring process. The company reportedly insisted that recruiters focus on female, black, Hispanic or Latino job candidates.
The legal complaint goes on to describe retaliation against employees who complained about hiring practices that focused on diversity. They were allegedly ignored, switched to other jobs or demoted.
This is not the only claim against the company. Two former Google employees have charged the company with discrimination against white men. Other lawsuits assert that the company paid women less and fired someone who published online posts promoting diversity.
Workplace discrimination can take the form of refusing a job to an applicant because of the person’s gender, age, race, disability or religion. A person who suspects that a company ignored qualifications or favored other types of candidates could discuss the problem with an attorney. The person could describe interactions with human resources and questions presented during a job interview. This information might produce evidence of illegal hiring practices that violate employment and civil rights laws. An attorney could help the person file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and possibly prepare a lawsuit against the employer.
