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In a statement late Wednesday, the organizers called on Google
parent Alphabet Inc to add an employee representative to its
board of directors and internally share pay-equity data. They
also asked for changes to Google's human resources practices
intended to make bringing harassment claims a fairer process.
Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said in a statement that
"employees have raised constructive ideas" and that the company
was "taking in all their feedback so we can turn these ideas
into action."
The dissatisfaction among Alphabet's 94,000 employees and tens
of thousands more contractors has not noticeably affected
company shares. But employees expect Alphabet to face recruiting
and retention challenges if their concerns go unaddressed.
The demonstrations follow a New York Times report last week that
said Google in 2014 gave a $90 million exit package to Andy
Rubin after the then-senior vice president was accused of sexual
harassment.
Rubin denied the allegation in the story, which he also said
contained "wild exaggerations" about his compensation. Google
did not dispute the report.
The report energized a months-long movement inside Google to
increase diversity, improve treatment of women and minorities
and ensure the company upholds its motto of "don't be evil" as
it expands.
Much of the organizing earlier this year was internal, including
petition drives, brainstorming sessions with top executives and
training from the workers' rights group Coworker.org.
On Thursday, employees posted on social media about the walkout
and were set to deliver speeches in public plazas.
Since its founding two decades ago, Google has been known around
the world for its exceptional transparency with workers.
Executives' goals and insights into corporate strategy have been
accessible to any employee.
But organizers said Google executives, like leaders at other
companies affected by the #metoo movement, have been slow to
address some structural issues.
"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," organizers stated.
They said Google must publicly report its sexual harassment
statistics and end forced arbitration in harassment cases. In
addition, they asked that the chief diversity officer be able to
directly advise the board.
(Reporting by Paresh Dave, editing by Larry King)
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