A former Google employee has taken legal action against the tech giant, accusing the company of discriminating against male workers. Marco Meier, who spent nearly 13 years with Google’s ads team, filed a lawsuit alleging that a senior executive created a biased work environment that favoured women. The lawsuit claims men were systematically excluded from promotions, meetings, and leadership roles under the guise of being “too aggressive.”
Executive Accused of Targeting Men
According to the lawsuit, Meier began facing workplace issues after reporting to Marta Martinez, a senior executive at Google. The suit alleges Martinez launched a pattern of discrimination that sidelined male employees. Meier claims he and other male colleagues were routinely interrupted during meetings, denied promotions, and excluded from high-profile projects – all while women were fast-tracked into leadership positions.
The lawsuit further reveals that in 2022, 14 people in Meier’s department were promoted to director roles – 13 of whom were women. When Meier joined Martinez’s team in 2019, there were seven male and two female team leads. But within four years, that ratio had flipped, with nearly all male leads replaced by women. Martinez allegedly justified this by labelling male workers as “too aggressive and too competitive.”
The lawsuit further reveals that in 2022, 14 people in Meier’s department were promoted to director roles – 13 of whom were women. When Meier joined Martinez’s team in 2019, there were seven male and two female team leads. But within four years, that ratio had flipped, with nearly all male leads replaced by women. Martinez allegedly justified this by labelling male workers as “too aggressive and too competitive.”
Exclusion From Team Activities
Meier also pointed out instances where male staff were left out of team activities. In December 2021, Martinez enrolled her team in a girls-only mentorship program, Step Up, while excluding Meier and another male colleague. Additionally, he noted that female team members were given memberships to women-only professional groups as Christmas gifts.
Despite strong performance and endorsements, Meier says it took him over five years to get promoted, whereas women were typically promoted within two. After raising a complaint with HR in November 2022 about gender bias, Meier says he was reassigned and later falsely criticised by Martinez in meetings.
He filed a second complaint in August 2023, but was ultimately terminated in April 2024. Although Google cited corporate restructuring, the lawsuit argues that Meier’s role was never eliminated – it was filled by an inexperienced woman.
He filed a second complaint in August 2023, but was ultimately terminated in April 2024. Although Google cited corporate restructuring, the lawsuit argues that Meier’s role was never eliminated – it was filled by an inexperienced woman.