Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is standing firm against claims it engages in wage discrimination against women. The same became clear last week when the tech giant with its vast data trove data insisted it was logistically challenging to hand over salary documents to the government.
Google’s Defense
The tech giant is entangled in a fierce lawsuit with the Department of Labor (DOL) which accuses it of widespread discrimination when it comes to how it pays women compared to men. In a bid to prove its point, the DOL has asked the court to compel the search giant to hand over its salary records.
Google lawyers in what can be interpreted as an attempt to shoot down the request have insisted that in order to hand over such crucial documents they would need over 500 labor hours. The tech giant also insists that handing over such data would be a violation of employee’s fourth amendment rights against unreasonable seizure.
The lawyers have also argued that the process would be expensive costing in the upwards of $100,000. The argument has not gone well with DOL lawyers with attorney Ian Eliasoph insisting the company is more than capable of absorbing the cost. What capability has to do with compelling payment for something that violates privacy rights is unclear. The precedent it would set if Google hands over the records could also be dangerous, justifying seizure of any records on any excuse.
“This is obviously a very time-consuming and burdensome project, our courts must act to check this abuse of power, “said Lisa Barnett Sween one of Google’s attorneys.
Google vs. DOL
The tense exchanges show no signs of slowing down, Google having stated it has devoted over 2,300 labor hours and $500,000 to comply with government requests for records.
The tech giant is required to comply with equal opportunity laws given that it is one of the biggest federal contractors. It is a provision that the DOL is using to push for a review of the companies official records having uncovered pay disparities in a 2015 snapshot. Why Google would pay women less than men for the same work is still an open question.
Google has over the years denied claims that it underpays women when compared to men for the same work. The company has always insisted that it has closed its gender pay gap globally having also provided equal pay across races in the U.S., though it is unclear if there ever was or is a gender pay gap at Google or anywhere else for that matter.
Google stock was up by $1.41 in Monday trading session consequently ending the day at $993.27 a share.