FOLLOW US

Google employees worldwide are holding a series of walkouts to protest the company’s handling of sexual harassment.

The organizers of the protest set the walkouts at around 11:00 a.m. at each local time in more than 20 Google offices around the world. The rally was prompted by a disclosing the tech giant’s history of protecting executives accused of sexual misconduct.

According to the article, Andy Rubin, the creator of Android mobile operating system, was one of the executives accused of sexual harassment. Good investigated the matter and found that allegations against Rubin were credible. Instead of firing Rubin, then Google CEO Larry Page asked him to resign. The company gave him a $90 million exit package, which was paid in installments.

Google employees demand changes

In an op-ed, the organizers of the walkouts stated that they are protesting with thousands of Google employees to demand changes.

According to them, “All employees and contract workers across the company deserve to be safe. Sadly, the executive team has demonstrated through their lack of meaningful action that our safety is not a priority…. We demand an end to the sexual harassment, discrimination, and the systemic racism that fuel this destructive culture.”

Google employees are demanding that the company make a commitment to end forced arbitration and eliminate pay and opportunity inequity. They are also calling for more transparency on its handling of sexual harassment allegations.

Additionally, they want the tech giant to promote the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) to answer directly to the CEO and make recommendations directly to the Board of Directors.

Furthermore, they are demanding that Google appoint an Employee Representative to the Board. According to them, the CDO and Employee Representative will work together to “ensure accountability for these demands and propose changes when equity goals are not met.”