Google employees will hold a sit-in Wednesday to send a message about alleged retaliation employees have faced from their managers.
“From being told to go on sick leave when you’re not sick, to having your reports taken away, we’re sick of retaliation,” Google Walkout For Real Change tweeted Tuesday afternoon. “Six months ago, we walked out. This time, we’re sitting in. 11am tomorrow.”
From being told to go on sick leave when you’re not sick, to having your reports taken away, we’re sick of retaliation.
Six months ago, we walked out. This time, we’re sitting in. 11am tomorrow. #NotOkGoogle #GoogleWalkout pic.twitter.com/GCq0x1O8cZ— Google Walkout For Real Change (@GoogleWalkout) April 30, 2019
In November, 20,000 Google employees walked out in response to a report published by the New York Times detailing how Google oversaw sexual harassment allegations. According to the Times, the company paid millions of dollars in exit packages to male executives who allegedly participated in sexual misconduct. However, Google failed to disclose information about the misconduct.
But leaders of the walkout claim that they faced retaliation. For example, Google employee Claire Stapleton said that she was demoted after she recruited others to participate. Additionally, she was ordered to take medical leave — even though she wasn’t ill.
Another Google employee, Meredith Whittaker, said she was “informed my role would be changed dramatically” in an internal letter shared with co-workers earlier this month. The letter was obtained by the New York Times.
Google declined to provide comment to the Washington Examiner, but shared a previous statement on the tech giant’s policies.
“We prohibit retaliation in the workplace and publicly share our very clear policy,” a Google spokesperson said. “To make sure that no complaint raised goes unheard at Google, we give employees multiple channels to report concerns, including anonymously, and investigate all allegations of retaliation.”
