It seems some men at Google LLC have been getting the short end of the stick when it comes to pay, according to a recent pay equity analysis study.

In a blog post today, Lauren Barbato, Google’s lead analyst for pay equity and people analytics, wrote that some men were being paid less the women doing the same jobs in 2018. Level 4 Software Engineers, said the report, often “received less discretionary funds than women.”

Following the study, the results of which were revealed to employees in January but only made public now, Google paid 10,677 employees an extra $9.7 million in compensation, although Google didn’t state just how many men received pay increases.

Last year when Google did a similar study, it revealed that a total of $270,000 was given to 228 workers to ensure pay equality. The difference was partly because of extra pay going to new hires.

“Our pay equity analysis ensures that compensation is fair for employees in the same job, at the same level, location and performance,” said Google. “But we know that’s only part of the story. Because leveling, performance ratings, and promotion impact pay, this year, we are undertaking a comprehensive review of these processes to make sure the outcomes are fair and equitable for all employees.”

In the past, Google has been accused of underpaying women who do the same jobs as men. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Labor said it found evidence of systemic compensation disparities against women. A year later, Google employees around the world took to the streets to protest against sexual misconduct and to promote pay equity for women.

Google has tried it seems to balance pay and ensure diversity in the workplace. In 2017 a software engineer called James Damore was fired for an internal memo he sent arguing that the reason why men might fill many of the better engineering positions was partly down to “inherent biological differences in men and women.”

Not only did Damore later start a class action lawsuit charging Google with discrimination against him, but the topic of inherent biological differences and equality of outcome has been a cause célèbre in the U.S. and beyond since then. The lawsuit argued that Google to the detriment of others filled diversity quotas.

Personalities such as psychologist Jordan Peterson have defended Damore’s assertions, but more broadly some critics are now saying people are afraid to air their views in an environment that can be less than forgiving.

Photo: Tobin/Flickr