Google employees at various global offices have staged a walkout over the treatment of women in the workplace. This follows after various claims concerning sexual misconduct were made against senior figures.
The protest has been named “Walkout for Real Change”. It came a week after it was reported that Goggle gave $90 million severance package to Andy Rubin, but concealed the details of a sexual misconduct allegation that caused his departure. Andy Rubin is the creator of the Android mobile phone software.
These allegations concern the technology firm’s high-profile senior officials. The allegations made to the senior executives are the most high-profile of what adds up to thousands of similar cases.
Workers from Tokyo, Singapore, Zurich, London, Berlin and Dublin have reportedly walked out today.
In London’s King’s Cross Office, most Google employees walked out and occupied the main auditorium.
One protestor told Sky News:
“I’m here protesting against harassment in the workplace, to make sure we don’t protect or support those perpetrators of harassment.”
“People are supporting those who have been harassed in any workplace situation, by any employer, and this is just part of the movement.”
It is said that employees were encouraged to leave a flyer on their desk which read:
“I’m not at my desk because I’m walking out in solidarity with other Googlers and contractors to protest sexual harassment, misconduct, lack of transparency, and workplace culture that’s not working for everyone.”
Google’s chief executive, Sundar Pichai, commented:
“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.”
Despite this, he insists that the tech giant takes a “hard line” concerning sexual misconduct.
He continued:
“Yesterday, we let Googlers know that we are aware of the activities planned for Thursday and that employees will have the support they need if they wish to participate.”
“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.”
At 10:08 GMT -4 today, shares in Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) were trading at -1.07%.
Earlier this month, we reported that the BBC also came under fire for poor working conditions of pay inequality.
