Rebellion over the Google ‘sex pests’
Staff in mass walkout after ‘cover-ups’
GOOGLE workers have staged a mass walkout following revelations that sexual misconduct cases were hushed up and executives paid off.
Protest organisers yesterday made a series of demands to management, saying employees at the web giant had ‘had enough’.
In actions reminiscent of a fledgling trade union, Google staff from across the globe left their desks and took to the streets holding placards.
Publishing a series of wide-ranging demands, they asked for an end to pay gaps with clear data about how wage packages work, a sexual harassment database and a process to report sexual misconduct. They also called for an employee representative to be given a seat on the board.
‘Time’s up at Google’, a briefing written by organisers read, with the group saying they had been inspired by the #MeToo movement.
At 11.10am, in more than 50 locations across the world, staff marched out of their offices and left flyers at their seats which read: ‘Hi. I walked out for real change. I am not at my desk because I am walking out in solidarity with other Googlers and contractors to protest sexual harassment, misconduct, lack of transparency and a workplace culture that is not working for everyone.’
In London, many went into a conference room because of the bad weather – with some taking to the stage to share stories of harassment and bullying.
In San Francisco, workers gathered in a square near the company’s headquarters chanting: ‘No justice, no peace’ and ‘We are fed up’. Cathay Bi, 32, a product manager, led the rally and spoke of a culture of sexual harassment which was ‘clearly pervasive at this company’.
In Dublin, workers held an hour-long demonstration.
The protests came after the New York Times last week revealed top Google executives had committed sexual misconduct – but had been allowed to leave quietly and walk away with multi-million- dollar payouts. Android phone creator Andy Rubin allegedly coerced a woman into performing a sex act at a hotel. Yet he was allegedly given a hero’s goodbye, funds to support his next project, and a $ 90 million (£ 69.4 million) pay package spread over two years.
Posters which referenced the case were yesterday carried through the streets. One read: ‘What do I do at Google? I work hard every day so the company can afford $90,000,000 payouts to execs who sexually harass my co- workers.’ Another said: ‘Happy to quit for $90,000,000. No sexual harassment required.’
Within hours of the claims about Rubin’s conduct being made public, it became clear his case was not isolated.
Chief executive Sundar Pichai came clean in an email to staff, admitting that 48 Google workers had been sacked following sexual harassment allegations in two years alone.
But the company was serious about providing a ‘safe and inclusive workplace’.
In a second email this week, the Google boss added: ‘Employees have raised constructive ideas for how we can improve our policies and our processes going forward. We are taking in all their feedback so we can turn these ideas into action.’