Google staff walk out over harassment, inequality, United States News & Top Stories



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SAN FRANCISCO • Hundreds of Google employees and contractors in Asia staged brief midday walkouts today, with complaints about sexism, racism and unchecked executive power in their workplace.

In a statement late on 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 information on the subject.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a statement that "employees have raised constructive ideas" and that the company was "taking into account their feedback".

The dissatisfaction among Alphabet's 94,000 employees and noticeably affected company shares. But employees expect to learn more.

The demonstrations follow in New York Times report last week that said Google in 2014 gave a US $ 90 million (S $ 124 million) exit package to Mr Andy Rubin after the then-senior vice president was accused of sexual harassment.

Mr Rubin, known as the "creator" of the Android mobile operating system, denied the allegation in the story, which also said "wild exaggerations" about his compensation. Google did not dispute the report.

The report energized a month-long movement inside Google to increase diversity, improve the treatment of women and minorities, and ensure the company upholds its motto of "do not be evil" as it expands.

Coworker.org, Coworker.org, Coworker.org, Coworker.org, Coworker.

Yesterday, employees posted on social media about the walkout and were in the public plazas.

The first walkout was at Google's Singapore office. Google staff in Zurich, London, Dublin, Tokyo and Berlin also staged walkouts.

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.

Purpose organizers said Google executives, like leaders in other societies affected by the #metoo movement, have been slow to address some structural issues.

"While Google has championed the language of diversity and inclusion, the term equity actions to address systemic racism, increase equity, and stop sexual harassment have been few and far between," organizers stated.

REUTERS

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