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Google is facing a lawsuit from a former employee who alleges the company discriminated against new parents during a round of layoffs while she was on maternity leave.
Paula Byrne, who worked at the tech giant for over a decade, claims she was among several parents targeted in the cuts, which she argues violated California's Family Rights Act and anti-discrimination laws.
Byrne, who had relocated from Ireland to California to work at Google in 2015, filed the suit in Santa Clara Superior Court on Wednesday. She says that five of the seven people laid off from her team were either on, had requested, or recently used parental leave, while employees without young children or medical conditions retained their jobs.
Google layoffs controversy
The lawsuit is tied to broader layoffs at Google in 2023, during which Byrne’s position as a training manager in the devices and services customer care division was eliminated. The dismissal occurred roughly seven months into her maternity leave, leaving her without health insurance or income as she cared for her new child.
Byrne’s legal team argues the decision to lay her off was discriminatory, noting her positive performance review shortly before she took leave. According to the complaint, her manager had expressed enthusiasm about her expanding influence within the team, reinforcing her belief that her job was secure.
Despite being told she could apply for other roles within Google, Byrne claims she was denied access to internal systems needed to pursue those opportunities. Attempts to secure a new position, aided by a former colleague, were unsuccessful.
“I thought Google would support me as I exercised my right to have a child,” Byrne said.
Allegations of bias
The lawsuit highlights what Byrne’s attorney, Tracy Lemmon, describes as a "disparate impact" on employees with parental responsibilities. “Paula couldn’t have worked harder,” Lemmon said. “She was told her performance wasn’t the issue, so what was? We believe the answers point to discrimination.”
California law protects employees on parental leave, mandating their right to return to equivalent positions. While companies can include such employees in layoffs, the decision cannot be tied to their leave.
Google’s Response
Google denies the allegations, maintaining that the layoffs were driven by business needs and adhered to its anti-discrimination policies.
“We completely disagree with these claims,” said a Google spokesperson. “Reorganizations are a normal part of business, and decisions are made based on business needs alone.”
The case highlights the complexities surrounding parental leave and layoffs, raising questions about how tech companies balance business decisions with employee protections.
