Google employees worldwide walk out in protest of company's handling of sexual misconduct
A report from the New York Times sparked the demonstrations by revealing a slew of executives Google protected after learning allegations had merit.
Tech professionals are taking a stand at one of the biggest companies around. Hundreds of Google employees from over 20 offices around the world are walking out as a means to protest the company's poor handling of sexual misconduct cases. The move was sparked by a New York Times report that revealed that Google protected Andy Rubin, the "Father of Android", and paid him $90 million while keeping quiet on allegations. Rubin is just one of the executives Google reportedly protected.
"It's time we stop congratulating ourselves just because it used to be so much worse," Google Engineering Manager Raymond Blum told CNBC. "You claim don't be evil, change the world. Fine. Be better... don't only be better, be as good as possible."
The demonstrations started at 11:10 AM local time for each office. Demonstrators have been spotted in Singapore, Tokyo, Longdon, Berlin, and Zurich, and you can find more pictures of protestors under the #GoogleWalkout hashtag on Twitter. The demonstration comes after Google CEO Pichai sent out memos stating the company was taking a hard stance against inappropriate behavior and that employees would have the support they needed to show up for the protests.
Rubin left the company in 2014 and Richard DeVaul, the executive from Alphabet's research Lab X that was also accused of inappropriate behavior, resigned this week. Nevertheless, protestors say that, for every one of these major news stories on sexual misconduct, there are "thousands more, at every level of the company."
"While Google has championed the language of diversity and inclusion, substantive actions to address systemic racism, increase equity, and stop sexual harassment have been few and far between," the employee statement reads. "ENOUGH. Reassuring PR won't cut it: we need transparency, accountability, and structural change."
These demonstrations are part of a long-running series of events aimed at making Google at a better place to work and surely won't be the last. With this, hopefully, Google higher-ups will take more firm actions and work to build up an environment where this type of thing doesn't happen. Stay tuned to Shacknews for additional updates.
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replyCharles Singletary Jr posted a new article, Google employees worldwide walk out in protest of company's handling of sexual misconduct
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Someone I know at Google resigned over the plans to return to China and how it harms political speech and dissent. It was only a handful of people but it made news and he got interviewed.
However this issue required a lot more than that and no resignations.
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James Damore: "the problem at Google is its treatment of straight white conservative men being repressed!"
Internet Male: "hm, yes very interesting"
Women at Google: "uh... yeah no" -
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