Even as Google fends off claims that it systemically pays women less than men, a new class action asserts that the company discriminates against white, conservative men.
Google employees who voiced conservative or opposing views on diversity hiring policies, bias sensitivity or social justice were mistreated in violation of their legal rights under California laws, the complaint asserts. The complaint also alleges that Google uses illegal hiring quotas to fill desired percentages of women and minority candidates and shames managers who fail to meet their quotas, making male and Caucasian employees less favored. Supporters of President Donald Trump also were discriminated against, the complaint maintains.
"Not only was the numerical presence of women celebrated at Google solely due to their gender but the presence of Caucasians and males was mocked with boos during companywide weekly meetings," it states. "This unacceptable behavior occurred at the hands of high-level managers at Google who were responsible for hundreds, if not thousands, of hiring and firing decisions."
We've rounded up the most recent news from SHRM Online and other trusted media outlets on this lawsuit.
Author of 'Diversity Memo' Behind Lawsuit
One of the two former Google engineers bringing the complaint alleging discrimination against white men is James Damore, who wrote last summer's controversial "diversity memo" that sparked outrage and resulted in him being fired. In a 10-page document titled "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber," Damore wrote that "to achieve a more equal gender and race representation, Google has created several discriminatory practices." He argued that it's because of differences in women's preferences and abilities—not sexism—that women don't hold more tech and leadership positions.
Danielle Brown, Google's vice president of diversity, integrity and governance, responded to the essay, telling employees that it "advanced incorrect assumptions about gender" and was "not a viewpoint that I or this company endorses, promotes or encourages." (SHRM Online)
Second Plaintiff Also Fired for Discriminatory Behavior
David Gudeman, the other plaintiff in the lawsuit, was fired in December 2016 for discriminatory behavior. Gudeman had used an internal Google forum to question a Muslim co-worker's account of being targeted by the FBI based on his religion. Gudeman suggested that the FBI had legitimate reasons to investigate the co-worker. Google fired him, saying it was not acceptable to accuse a co-worker of terrorism based on the employee's religion. (NPR)
Code of Conduct Violated
Damore had e-mailed his memo to 40,000 colleagues. Google CEO Sundar Pichai informed employees that the document "violates our Code of Conduct and cross[es] the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." The release of the memo, experts said, highlights an even greater need for HR to encourage diversity in the male-dominated tech industry. (SHRM Online)
Debate Rages Over Firing
Critics said Damore's termination reflected a "politically correct monoculture." and asserted that Google's decision to fire him for voicing an unpopular opinion proved his point. In response to the termination, anti-Google ads appeared on the back of bus stop benches outside Google offices in Venice, Calif. In one of the ads, Pichai is pictured beneath late Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Next to Jobs is a picture of the Apple logo with the company's slogan "Think Different." Next to Pichai is the logo with text that says "Not So Much." (SHRM Online)
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Alleged Pay Discrimination Against Women
Google also has been sued for allegedly paying women less than men for substantially similar work. While a judge rejected an attempt to represent all women employed at Google as overly broad, a more narrowly tailored class of female plaintiffs filed suit last week, claiming discrimination in starting salaries, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) also is auditing Google to determine whether it discriminates against women in pay. Google is refusing to provide some of the documentation requested by the OFCCP, but the agency has been awarded access to some personal contact information of Google employees. (SHRM Online)
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