Google workers support proposed US laws to curb mandatory arbitration

Six Google employees on Thursday joined US lawmakers to support bills that would ban mandatory arbitration in employment and consumer contracts, as the workers seek to build on recent success in getting the Alphabet Inc company to drop some arbitration provisions.

Mandatory arbitration, which prevents people from taking disputes to court, has become a big target for workers’ rights activists in recent years. They have expressed concern that requiring private arbitration helps businesses facing harassment and discrimination allegations to avoid public scrutiny.