Google reforming sexual misconduct policy
ROIT» Subaru is recalling DE T about 640,000 vehicles worldwide to fix two problems that can cause them to stall.
The first recall covers about 229,000 Outback and Legacy vehicles in the U.S. from the 2018 model year. Government documents say a software problem can stop the low-fuel warning light from illuminating and make the milesto-empty display inaccurate. The problem can cause drivers to run out of fuel and stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The other recall covers Subaru Imprezas from 2012 to 2014 and the 2013 BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S.
Poland signs deal for long-term deliveries of U.S. gas.
WARSAW,
ND» Poland’s main POL A gas company signed a long-term contract Thursday to receive deliveries of liquefied natural gas from the United States as part of a larger effort to reduce its energy dependence on Russia.
The state company PGNiG signed the 24year deal with American supplier Cheniere during a ceremony in Warsaw that was attended by U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Polish President Andrzej Duda.
SAN FRANCISCO» Google is promising to be more forceful and open about its handling of sexual misconduct cases, a week after highpaid engineers and others walked out in protest over its male-dominated culture.
CEO Sundar Pichai spelled out the concessions in an email sent Thursday to Google employees. The note of contrition came a week after the tech giant’s workers left their cubicles in dozens of offices around the world to protest management’s treatment of top executives and other male workers accused of sexual harassment and other misconduct involving men. The protest’s organizers estimated that about 20,000 workers participated in the walkout.
“Google’s leaders and I have heard your feedback and have been moved by the stories you’ve shared,” Pichai wrote in his email. “We recognize we have not always gotten everything right in the past and we are sincerely sorry for that. It’s clear we need to make some changes.” Pichai’s email was obtained by The Associated Press.
Google bowed to one of the protesters’ main demands by dropping mandatory arbitration of all sexual misconduct cases. That will now be optional under the new policies. It mirrors a change made by ridehailing service Uber after the complaints of its women employees prompted an internal investigation concluding that its rank had been poisoned by rampant sexual harassment
Google will also provide more details about sexual misconduct cases in internal reports available to employees. The breakdowns will include the number of cases that were substantiated within various company departments and list the types of punishment imposed, including firings, pay cuts and mandated counseling.
The company is also stepping up its training aimed at preventing misconduct, requiring all employees to go through the process annually instead of every other year. Those who fall behind in their training, including top executives, will be dinged in their annual performance reviews, leaving a blemish that could lower their pay and make it more difficult to get promoted.
The reforms are the latest fallout from a broader societal backlash against men’s exploitation of their women subordinates in business, entertainment and politics.