Google has settled with a former employee who says she was punished by the tech giant after she stood up for the rights of a pregnant co-worker as well as her own rights as a working mother.
Chelsey Glasson, a former manager at Google, accused the tech company of discrimination in 2019, and sued it in 2020, after publishing an anonymous memo titled, “I’m Not Returning to Google After Maternity Leave, and Here is Why.”
Claiming she was punished for standing up for a pregnant co-worker, Glasson also alleges that she, too, was pushed out after becoming pregnant.
While Google claims it has found no evidence of discrimination, it has now settled with Glasson.
Google has received bad press in recent years following alleged sexual misconduct claims and criticism of its handling of such cases, including at its parent company, Alphabet.
Last year, Glasson tweeted: “When this is all said and done, fighting Google will have cost me three years of my life, $100,000 in legal bills, and my mental health.”
Numerous accounts of pregnancy discrimination have come out in recent years and months.
Courtney Flint, former Gucci America’s Senior Media Director, recently filed a discrimination charge against the company, as reported by SPUC. Flint claimed she received “derogatory remarks” about her pregnancy and was demoted after returning from maternity leave.
SPUC comment
A SPUC spokesperson said: “A profoundly sexist, anti-mother ethic has arisen in recent decades, viewing pregnancy as a ‘problem’ to be eliminated. It is increasingly clear that big business, too, is underwriting such discrimination against mothers.
“The message that this sends to mothers and society is of course hugely damaging – and is part of the broader abortion ethic that is being pushed on women.
“It is vital that we push back against this blatant denigration of women and motherhood.”
Similar stories
Gucci accused of pregnancy discrimination by mother who claims she was demoted after giving birth
Nursery worker who was unfairly dismissed because of pregnancy wins her case
Pregnant woman wins £14,000 for unfair dismissal after botched Maternity Leave
Professor sues college for job loss because she was a mother