In Google offices around the world, Google workers stood up, left their desks and started protesting sexual misconduct.
Dubbed the “Google Walkout For Real Change,” this protest started today at 11.00 in every time zone, after a social media campaign that started in the days following some troubling accusations against Andy Rubin, Android’s co-founder and creator of the Essential brand.
I’m walking out tomorrow with thousands of my coworkers because I believe it’s past time for this abuse to stop. It’s clear neither government nor business leaders will fix this on their own. We have to do this ourselves y’all. #googlewalkout ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿https://t.co/PCtYo7Ieuk
— Amr Gaber (@amrtgaber) November 1, 2018
Watch below how Google employees in Dublin, Zurich, London or Singapore are trying to take a stand against sexual misconduct and how Google handles charges like this. Why is this happening?
Big crowd here now at Google Dublin for the #GoogleWalkout pic.twitter.com/hvRgPHX27D
— Will Goodbody (@willgoodbody) November 1, 2018
Last week, an incendiary New York Times report titled “How Google Protected Andy Rubin, the ‘Father of Android’” revealed how, despite a sexual misconduct claim, Google silently paid Rubin $90 million. The report claims Google protected Rubin’s reputation, while also investing in his Essential company (which is going bankrupt, according to the latest report).
This prompted widespread outrage in Silicon Valley and other tech hubs, giving birth to the Google Walkout protest.
“Mr. Rubin was one of three executives that Google protected over the past decade after they were accused of sexual misconduct.
In two instances, it ousted senior executives but softened the blow by paying them millions of dollars as they departed, even though it had no legal obligation to do so.
In a third, the executive remained in a highly compensated post at the company. Each time Google stayed silent about the accusations against the men,” claimed the report.
What does the Google Walkout for Real Change protest hope to achieve?
Here is Kate, the Google Dublin “Walkout for Real Change” coordinator addressing the crowd. pic.twitter.com/iZFhHAJ9VO
— Will Goodbody (@willgoodbody) November 1, 2018
Business Insider has a list of the demands made by Google staff:
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- An end to Forced Arbitration in cases of harassment and discrimination for all current and future employees.
- 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 safely and anonymously.
- Elevate the Chief Diversity Officer to answer directly to the CEO and make recommendations directly to the Board of Directors. Appoint an Employee Rep to the Board.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that he supports the protest and will listen to his workers’ demands. Andy Rubin has made no statement yet.
The first of many coordinated #GoogleWalkout protests has begun – this is at the firm’s office in Singapore. (Pic via https://t.co/h44RZYGGHV ) pic.twitter.com/QeFgmPbHnN
— Dave Lee (@DaveLeeBBC) November 1, 2018
Also read: ✍Google Denies Claims About Google Home Hub’s Lack of Security
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