With the U.S. Department of Labor's lawsuit against Google Inc. to obtain compensation data underway, the DOL has revealed that “systemic compensation disparities against women” exist at the tech giant. While Google denies the accusation, lawyers say the ongoing investigation highlights the increased pressure companies – and in-house lawyers – face to close the gender pay gap. 

On Jan. 4, the DOL filed a complaint against Google, claiming the company denied its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs access to certain employee compensation records, which is required as part of a DOL compliance review. The Mountain View, California-based company did comply with an initial request for compensation data, but refused to produce requested additional information. 

In a trial that began April 7 at the Office of Administrative Law Judges in San Francisco, DOL regional director Janette Wipper testified that Google has “systemic compensation disparities against women pretty much across the entire workforce.”