Google Wins Fight With Labor Department Over Pay Gap Data A judge has ruled that officials asked for too much info.

By Jon Fingas

entrepreneur daily

This story originally appeared on Engadget

turtix / Shutterstock.com

Google appears to have emerged mostly triumphant in its fight with the Department of Labor over supplying pay gap data. An administrative law judge has ruled that the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs overstepped its boundaries by asking for as much data as it did when trying to address reported pay disparities between men and women. According to the decision, the OFCCP's requests were "intrusive on employee privacy, unduly burdensome and insufficiently focused." To put it succinctly, the Office couldn't justify why it needed as much info as it wanted.

The Department had been asking for job data up to 15 years old, and wanted far-ranging personal data that included addresses and contact info for over 25,000 employees. In theory, sharing that material could have exposed staff to identity theft in the event of a government data breach, which the judge saw as a realistic possibility.

Officials aren't coming away completely empty-handed. Provided the decision is finalized, Google says it'll honor the rest of the order and provide the "much more limited" data the judge said was acceptable. That includes the contacts for a relatively small sample of 8,000 workers. Still, this definitely isn't what the Labor Department wanted -- and it'll likely have to be more cautious the next time it's investigating pay problems with its tech contractors.

Jon Fingas is an associate editor at Engadget.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Marketing

Why You Should Avoid Agencies That Promise SEO Results — and How to Find One That Delivers Real Value

SEO is a complex field where results depend on many factors. Learn why guaranteed SEO services are not a good idea and how to find an SEO agency that delivers results.

Social Media

A TikTok Ban Could Threaten the Livelihood of Many Entrepreneurs — Here's How Businesses Can Protect Themselves

It's time to pivot – not panic. Here's your go-to guide through the TikTok ban or sale saga.

Leadership

Being Customer Centric Has Nothing To Do With Your Customers — Here's Where You Should Start.

The customer experience boils down to behaviors, mindset and organizational culture.

Leadership

3 Ways to Make Sure Every Aspect of Your Business Ties Back to Your Purpose

Learn to be proactive in crafting a culture where your staff feels valued and customers sing your company's praises.