Google has fired 48 staff members for sexual misconduct over the last 2 years | News and opinions

The New York Times has published an article suggesting that Google protects senior leaders accused of sexual harassment. In response, the company's CEO said the technology giant had adopted a hard line against all employees involved in sexual misconduct.

Is Google doing enough to stop sexual harassment at work?

Thursday, The New York Times published an article according to which Google would have paid 90 million dollars to the founder of Android Ruby in his departure package, although he was forced to resign in 2014 following a credible complaint of sexual misconduct.

The report then paints a Google chart protecting senior leaders accused of sexual harassment. Amit Singhal, a former Google search manager, has also received a paid out pay package in millions after resigning because of allegations that he was groping an employee.

Google does not deny all the claims of the report. On Thursday, company CEO Sundar Pichai and company vice president Eileen Naughton e-mailed contributors: "The story of today in the New York Times was difficult to read. "

However, Pichai and Naughton quickly added that Google "is absolutely serious" to make the company a "safe and inclusive workplace".

The e-mail – obtained by PCMag through the intermediary of a company spokesperson – takes stock of Google's recent efforts to end sexual misconduct. He notes that over the past two years, Google has fired 48 employees for sexual harassment. 13 of the employees were senior managers or more, and none of them received an exit package.

"We want to make sure that we review every complaint about sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct, that we investigate and act," reads in this email. An update of Google's policy also requires senior vice-presidents of the company to disclose their relationships with colleagues, regardless of "hierarchy or presence of a conflict."

That said, the email makes no mention of Singhal and Rubin, both of whom left Google more than two years ago. The New York Times & # 39; According to a report, Google would have paid Rubin the huge exit package to prevent him from working at a competitor's or denigrating the company by initiating an unjustified dismissal procedure.

Sam Singer, a spokesperson for Rubin, said The New York Times that the founder of Android left Google on his own and did not commit sexual misconduct while working for the company.