Google resolves unfair employee practices lawsuit with $27 million settlement

In a groundbreaking development, tech giant Google has finalized a $27 million settlement with employees who alleged unfair labor practices, marking the largest agreement of its kind, as revealed in California state court documents, according to reports by Semafor. The case, filed under California's Private Attorneys General Act, emerged in 2016 and was one of the early instances of employee activism that has since swept through the tech industry over the past seven years.

Pending court approval, the majority of the settlement will be allocated to the state, with approximately 100,000 Google employees set to receive varying amounts between $20 and $70, depending on their tenure with the company. The intent of the Act, as outlined in the report, is to penalize companies rather than primarily compensate employees.

A Google spokesperson emphasized, "While we strongly believe in the legitimacy of our policies, after nearly eight years of litigation, Google decided that resolution of the matter, without any admission of wrongdoing, is in the best interest of everyone."

The lawsuit originated following the termination of a Google-owned Nest worker who was fired for posting grievances about the company's management on Facebook.

(With input from IANS)