Google staff leave women's treatment

Google's office staff around the world is about to organize a series of unprecedented walkouts to protest the company's treatment of women.

Employees will require several significant changes in the way allegations of sexual misconduct are handled in the company, including a call to end forced arbitration – a measure that would allow victims to prosecute in justice.

Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, told staff that he would support their right to act.

"I understand the anger and disappointment felt by many of you," he said in an email to all staff.

"I feel it too, and I am fully committed to making progress on an issue that has been around for too long in our society … and, yes, here at Google too."

Anger at the company 's business has increased last week since it' s appeared. A senior executive received $ 90 million after leaving the company, despite what Google considered a "credible" allegation of sexual misconduct against him. Andy Rubin, known as the "creator" of the Android mobile operating system, denies the allegations.

On Tuesday, another leader from the company's X research laboratory also resigned. Richard DeVaul reportedly made unwanted advances to a woman recently interviewed for work in which she reported to DeVaul.

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Mr. DeVaul has not made any comment since his resignation, but in the past called it "misjudgment".

At least 48 other employees were fired for sexual harassment without payment, Pichai told staff. He admitted that the New York Times report was "hard to read".

Staff involved in Thursday's walkout will leave a note on his desk telling his colleagues: "I'm not at my desk because I'm going out with other Googlers and sub-contractors to protest the sexual harassment, misbehavior, lack of transparency and a workplace culture that is not working for everyone. "

They also send formal requests to Google management. They are:

1. The end of forced arbitration in case of harassment and discrimination for all current and future employees;
2. A commitment to end the inequality of wages and opportunities;
3. A transparency report on sexual harassment publicly disclosed;
4. A clear, consistent and globally inclusive process to report sexual misconduct safely and anonymously;
5. The appointment of a Diversity Officer reporting directly to the CEO and his / her recommendations directly to the Board of Directors;
6. The appointment of an employee representative on the board.

Forced arbitration, a contractual clause common to workers in Silicon Valley, requires that all disputes be handled internally rather than by other means such as the courts. Critics of forced arbitration say that it is used not only to protect the reputation of the company and the defendants, but also to silence the victims unable to appeal these decisions or take other measures.

"The employees had constructive ideas about how we could improve our policies and processes," Pichai said in a statement on Wednesday night.

"We take into account all their comments in order to realize these ideas."

A coordinated action of this magnitude is unprecedented in a Silicon Valley business, but follows a trend toward more and more passionate employee activism.

"Women are fed up, and I do not think it's just women," said Professor Kellie McElhaney of the Haas School of Business.

"Many" ambassadors "are just as tired and use their positions of power and voice, which can cost Google money, and I think you have to hit those companies where it hurts.

"I think this allows other Google offices, when women and men look at this, to be able to do something similar, not just sitting, not commenting, or sharing emails. "

Over the past year, Google employees have been strongly opposed to the company's work with the US Department of Defense and its plans to re-enter the Chinese market with a research product.

The Tech Workers Coalition, a San Francisco-based advocacy group, said the conflict of the day was just one of many tech companies to deal with.

"We stand with Google workers," said a spokesman for the group.

"It's clear leaders will not do it for us, so we're taking things in hand."

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