“Google is using me to make them look inclusive”
Get into this tea Xtralites 👀☕️. A Google employee who is black and deaf has filed a lawsuit against the company, accusing it of discrimination based on her disability and race. Jalon Hall, reportedly the first and only black, deaf hire at Google, alleges that the company was only using her for optics telling wired, “Google is using me to make them look inclusive for the Deaf community and the overall Disability community,” Hall told Wired. “In reality, they need to do better.” She also says they limited her access to sign-language interpreters and created a hostile and racially charged work environment. Hall claims that Google’s management called her derogatory names and excluded her from discussions and promotions. Get this Xtralites, Hall cited Google’s manager at the company’s machine-learning research program calling her an “aggressive black deaf woman” and advising her to “keep her mouth shut and take a sales role”. Oop! 👀
Despite Google’s public praise for Hall’s contributions to diversity and inclusion, she states that the company failed to provide promised accommodations, leaving her unable to perform her job adequately. Despite filing multiple complaints with HR, little change occurred, prompting Hall to file a lawsuit. She remains at Google in hopes of improving working conditions for others in similar situations. The lawsuit highlights broader issues of diversity and inclusion at Google, where black and disabled employees are underrepresented and face disproportionately higher departure rates. In addition to personal compensation, Hall seeks policy changes to ensure equitable treatment for all employees with disabilities.
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