Professionalism/The Google Walkouts of 2018

Introduction On November 1, 2018, more than 20,000 Google employees walked out of their offices in protest of the company’s handling of sexual harassment allegations, sparking a growing wave of protests among tech workers. The Google walkout: What protesters demanded and what they got https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2019-11-06/google-walkout-demands The Los Angeles Times 2019 Participants Andy Rubin Former Google executive Andy Rubin is perhaps best known for founding Android in 2003. The rise and fall of Andy Rubin, the former Google executive accused of sexual misconduct whose new startup, Essential, just shut down for good https://www.businessinsider.com/android-sex-ring-leader-rise-fall-google-exec-andy-rubin-2019-7#and-in-a-life-altering-career-step-rubin-founded-android-in-2003-10 Business Insider 2020 After working at Google for over a decade, Rubin left to start a tech incubator in 2014. His reason for leaving was unknown for several years. In 2018, the New York Times wrote a scathing article revealing Rubin was let go amid a sexual assault investigation, receiving a severance package of $90 million plus another $150 million in stock. How Google Protected Andy Rubin, the ‘Father of Android https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/25/technology/google-sexual-harassment-andy-rubin.html The New York Times 2018 The allegations were not confirmed when Rubin was let go, but they were credible enough that Google asked for Rubin's resignation; he did not volunteer to step down. Google Employees Walk Out To Protest Company's Treatment Of Women https://www.npr.org/2018/11/01/662851489/google-employees-plan-global-walkout-to-protest-companys-treatment-of-women npr 2018 Since then, Rubin's main goals have been to save his career and reputation by denying allegations and shifting blame. Google Management As one of the five largest tech companies in the world, Google has many eyes watching it. Ranking The Big Four Tech Stocks: Google Is No. 1, Apple Comes In Last https://www.barrons.com/articles/ranking-the-big-four-internet-stocks-google-is-no-1-apple-comes-in-last-1503412102 Barron's 2017 Accordingly, Google makes a point to publicly denounce any workplace harassment or retaliation, and holds publicly available policies to deal with them. Google Event Community Guidelines and Anti-Harassment Policy https://www.google.com/events/policy/anti-harassmentpolicy.html Google N.d. However, some employees doubt that Google has honored these policies, and many have personally experienced policy violations. Google workers explain why they unionized https://www.cnet.com/news/google-workers-explain-why-they-unionized/ cnet 2021 This was exacerbated by workers having little protection from Google. Google walkouts showed what the new tech resistance looks like, with lots of cues from union organizing https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/03/google-employee-protests-as-part-of-new-tech-resistance.html CNBC 2018 Because Google is incredibly careful with its image, they wanted to push the Rubin scandal under the rug. This may be why they gave him such a generous exit package and continued to praise him as if he had not caused any damage. How Google Protected Andy Rubin, the ‘Father of Android https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/25/technology/google-sexual-harassment-andy-rubin.html The New York Times 2018 Protesters/Organizers Many employees were already unhappy with Google’s response to past abuse allegations, so news of Rubin’s hushed severance package was the final straw. Google walkouts showed what the new tech resistance looks like, with lots of cues from union organizing https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/03/google-employee-protests-as-part-of-new-tech-resistance.html CNBC 2018 In less than seven days, Google employees Claire Stapleton, Tanuja Gupta, Meredith Whittaker, Celie O'Neil-Hart, Stephanie Parker, Erica Anderson, and Amr Gaber organized the Walkout, demanding "an end to the sexual harassment, discrimination, and systemic racism that fuel this destructive culture” in tech. One year after the Google walkout, key organizers reflect on the risk to their careers https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/01/tech/google-walkout-one-year-later-risk-takers/index.html CNN 2020 The long history behind the Google Walkout https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/9/18078664/google-walkout-history-tech-strikes-labor-organizing The Verge 2018 The Causes Discontent had been simmering at Google for some time, but ultimately, the company's dealing with Rubin led to the Walkout. Google Walkout: Employees Stage Protest Over Handling of Sexual Harassment https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/01/technology/google-walkout-sexual-harassment.html The New York Times 2018 Some employees felt that Google had "a workplace culture that has turned a blind eye to sexual harassment and discrimination." Google employees walk out over sexual harassment scandals https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/01/tech/google-employee-walkout-andy-rubin cnn 2018 Rubin's case coming to light urged others to come forward, and the collective discontent was enough to spark the Walkout. Google employees around the world are walking out today to protest the company’s handling of sexual misconduct https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/01/google-employees-walk-out-in-protest-of-sexual-misconduct-handling.html CNBC 2018 The Protest The Google Walkout occurred on November 1, 2018, at 11:10 am local time in each of 50 cities around the world. Google employees and contractors participate in global “walkout for real change” https://googlewalkout.medium.com/google-employees-and-contractors-participate-in-global-walkout-for-real-change-389c65517843 Google Walkout for Real Change 2018 More than 20,000 Google employees participated by leaving their desks and gathering outside of their buildings for part of the day. We’re the Organizers of the Google Walkout. Here Are Our Demands https://www.thecut.com/2018/11/google-walkout-organizers-explain-demands.html The Cut 2018 Many carried signs protesting Google's handling of harassment, with messages like, "Happy to quit for $90 million, no sexual harassment required." Google Employees Walk Out To Protest Company's Treatment Of Women https://www.npr.org/2018/11/01/662851489/google-employees-plan-global-walkout-to-protest-companys-treatment-of-women NPR 2018 Reactions to the event were mixed but mostly positive. Many felt that the event was an "inspiring experience" @celiehart https://twitter.com/celiehart/status/1088520076272164865 Twitter 2019 and "a strong, united stance against inequality." @amgoulet https://twitter.com/amgoulet/status/1057972704223973376 Twitter 2018 Others were less convinced of the event's impact, @HearITfromMatt https://twitter.com/HearITfromMatt/status/1057998567254614016 Twitter 2018 or felt that it only appeared united due to "peer pressure." @cbirlos https://twitter.com/cbirlos/status/1057900563336216576 Twitter 2018 The Walkout organizers demanded five changes from Google. First and foremost, they demanded "an end to forced arbitration." Under forced arbitration, harassed employees must settle disputes via a privately-hired arbitrator, who may be more likely to rule in favor of the company."Why forced arbitration policies are a huge red flag for women at work". Quartz. 2019. The organizers also demanded "a commitment to end pay and opportunity inequity, … a publicly disclosed sexual harassment transparency report, … a clear, uniform, globally inclusive process for reporting sexual misconduct, … [and to] promote the Chief Diversity Officer to answer directly to the CEO and … appoint an Employee Representative to the Board." Google's Response Google's (specifically, Google management's) initial response was to visibly and publicly support the Walkout. CEO Sundar Pichai initially praised the Walkout, and encouraged employees to participate. Google Loved Me, Until I Pointed Out Everything That Sucked About It https://www.elle.com/culture/tech/a30259355/google-walkout-organizer-claire-stapleton/ Elle 2019 Just one week after the event, Google released a memo addressing the organizers' demands and detailing their preliminary response. Our commitments and actions https://services.google.com/fh/files/blogs/november_announcement.pdf Google 2018 Most notably, they agreed to make forced arbitration completely optional. The Google walkout: What protesters demanded and what they got https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2019-11-06/google-walkout-demands Los Angeles Times 2019 The Walkout caused this change directly, confirming that protest can be an effective vehicle for change. Google met most of the other demands partially, although they did not promote the Chief Diversity Officer or appoint an employee representative to the board. Over time, it became clearer that Google's initial support was less out of a long-term conviction to support activism and more out of a short-term responsibility to protect their public image. Four of the seven Walkout organizers felt compelled to leave the company in the first year after the Walkout. Most of the Google Walkout Organizers Have Left the Company https://www.wired.com/story/most-google-walkout-organizers-left-company WIRED 2019 Claire Stapleton decided to quit after she stopped getting included in meetings and some of her responsibilities were transferred to others. Meredith Whittaker also quit after she was asked to stop her work on AI ethics. These women were not explicitly demoted or fired; management preferred to shift their power away subtly, thereby avoiding negative attention. Google hired anti-unionization firm IRI Consultants a year after the Walkout, Google Hires Firm Known for Anti-Union Efforts https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/20/technology/Google-union-consultant.html The New York Times 2019 further confirming the company's motivation to disempower employee activists who could tarnish its image. The Lawsuit In January 2019, Alphabet_Inc. Alphabet (Google's parent company) was sued by a few large shareholders, claiming that Alphabet had violated its Fiduciary_duty fiduciary responsibility, or its obligation to act in the interest of their investors, by engaging in the same behavior that led to the Walkout. Alphabet Complaint https://www.cohenmilstein.com/sites/default/files/Alphabet-Complaint%20-%20Stamped%2001092019.pdf Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC 2019 The shareholders claimed that Google violated its own Code of Conduct, including a "no retaliation" clause. Google Code of Conduct https://abc.xyz/investor/other/google-code-of-conduct/ Alphabet 2021 The lawsuit hinged on the idea that Google's reputation is valuable and was compromised by Google management's actions. While the protesters would have identified Rubin and others as professionally or morally problematic, the prosecution identified them as financially problematic. In August 2020, Alphabet agreed to settle the lawsuit, Alphabet Stipulation of Settlement https://www.cohenmilstein.com/sites/default/files/Alphabet%20Stipulation%20of%20Settlement%20-%20Executed_0.pdf Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC 2020 which included a $310 million agreement to diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives. Building on our Workplace Commitments https://blog.google/documents/90/building_on_workplace_commitments_2020.pdf Google 2020 Some, including former Google employee Timnit Gebru, have criticized these initiatives. The withering email that got an ethical AI researcher fired at Google https://www.platformer.news/p/the-withering-email-that-got-an-ethical Platformer 2020 The settlement also included a clause to end severance packages for anyone terminated for sexual misconduct (such as Rubin). Judge Walsh, who signed off on the settlement, praised it as a credit to what lawyers can do to "address sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, discrimination, retaliation, inequity and inclusion in the workplace." In re Alphabet Shareholder Derivative Litigation https://www.cohenmilstein.com/case-study/re-alphabet-shareholder-derivative-litigation Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC 2020 Ethics and Professionalism Google's Professionalism and the Implications of the Settlement Ever since Google went public in 2004, it has had a fiduciary responsibility. Google files for unusual $2.7 billion IPO https://www.cnet.com/news/google-files-for-unusual-2-7-billion-ipo/ cnet 2004 By law, Google's version of Aristotle Aristotle's Nicomachean_Ethics The Good must be to maximize shareholder welfare. The lawsuit reminded Google that its public image is a crucial sub-good. Google feared media attention and litigation when firing executives: "When Google fires lower-level employees, it typically marches them out immediately and pays little, if any, severance. But for senior executives, Google weighs other factors. A wrongful termination lawsuit could mean unwanted media attention for Google and the victims of a misconduct case, with a loss resulting in significant damages." Part of the separation agreement "precluded Mr. Rubin from working for rivals or disparaging Google publicly." Rubin repeatedly violated Google's Code of Conduct. Google had an opportunity to fully explain its rationale in a legal setting via the lawsuit filed against them. What seems unethical to protesters and financially wasteful to shareholders might have been explained by private legal bindings or some other obligation. By settling out of court, Google avoids a public explanation, leaving critics to speculate. This does not imply that the company concedes the claims. But, if Google is unable or unwilling to explain its decisions when criticized, then it continues to sacrifice employee, shareholder, and customer confidence. In an effort to keep expensive negative press away, Google allowed a problematic corporate culture to fester and grow, delaying the inevitable uproar and culminating in the 2018 Walkout. Google risked its long-term reputation and company culture to avoid short-term bad press about one of its most valuable employees, and it failed. It lost money and worsened its reputation, both steps away from The Good for Google. The Protesters and Organizers and Their Influence Admittedly, some protesters may have just felt pressured by their peers. But ultimately, all participants risked their Google careers when they walked out and spoke out against Google management. They valued their profession over their career. The protesters exemplified professionalism by pushing for change in Google policies and inspiring others, like shareholders, to speak out in their own way. Their efforts produced real change at Google, and their example inspired more walkouts and demonstrations, not only at Google but also at Amazon and Microsoft. How the Google walkout transformed tech workers into activists https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2019-11-06/google-employee-walkout-tech-industry-activism Los Angeles Times 2019 See also Andy Rubin, Google, and Sexual Harassment in Tech The Work Climate at Google References