A federal appeals court has agreed to pause proceedings in a case examining whether Google LLC is considered a joint employer of workers contracted through Accenture Flex. The US Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued the decision on Thursday, halting the case until at least February to allow for a settlement agreement between Google, the union, and other involved parties.
The court’s stay on proceedings will remain in effect until February 3, 2027, unless a motion for further relief is filed before that date. If no such motion is submitted, the court stated that the briefing schedule will be reset, indicating a potential delay in resolving the case.
Both Google and the union involved in the dispute jointly requested the stay, submitting a motion to the Ninth Circuit. The court’s decision reflects an effort to facilitate a negotiated settlement rather than proceeding with litigation.