3 ms·

"one also doesn’t solve a problem by yelling “harassment” each time someone asks to discuss whether a diversity effort is indeed effective." Google simply didn

"one also doesn’t solve a problem by yelling “harassment” each time someone asks to discuss whether a diversity effort is indeed effective." Google simply didn't, and neither did Google employees. The letter from CEO Sundar Pichai makes this clear: "many points raised in the memo—such as the portions criticizing Google’s trainings, questioning the role of ideology in the workplace, and debating whether programs for women and underserved groups are sufficiently open to all—are important topics. The author had a right to express their views on those topics" I don't understand why there is so much discussion around whether or not what the fired employee said was scientifically true or not. "Blacks on average are more [insert negative here]" "Jews on average are more [insert negative here]" "Men on average are more [insert negative here]" How would I get away with any of the above statements in widely published memo at any big company, regardless of basis in fact? It's a PR disaster that costs the company money to manage, and it also violates Google's code of conduct by having made a significant portion of employees feel harassed or intimidated. Here is an excerpt from the Google employee code of conduct which expects: "each Googler to do their utmost to create a workplace culture that is free of harassment, intimidation, bias and unlawful discrimination." The fired employee didn't do that, and that's why he was fired. I suspect the reason so many people have trouble with the firing, and the responsibility stated in employee CoC is that it puts a lot of power in other people's hands. You can no longer sit behind your screen and insist that it's a scientific fact and therefor you are right. Respecting the CoC requires empathy, people skills, listening, perhaps sometimes even submissiveness - all things that "technical people on average are bad at."

Caveman_Coder 9y ago
> "I suspect the reason so many people have trouble with the firing, and the responsibility stated in employee CoC is that it puts a lot of power in other people's hands." I disagree. I think people are upset, at least conservatives within Google, because they see this "against the CoC" idea selectively applied. I can tell you first hand that there were a lot of things said by those on the left, especially after the election, about conservatives that many felt violated the CoC, the issue is just that its a minority at Google that are conservative. I mean, after the election at the TGIF, a member of management basically told everyone to stand up and hug the person next to you and "it's going to be alright." If this isn't alienating, lacking in empathy, and downright rude toward the conservative Googlers, I don't know what is...
- tchaffee 9y ago
  I'm sure it's a little of both of what we said, and other reasons as well. One has to ask: did the conservative Googlers who felt intimidated or harassed by the hug session report that to HR or management? If the the CoC is selectively applied then people have to prove it, not just have a hunch about it and moan about it. They need do what every minority group in the past has done: collect stats, show the evidence, and take action. If this is in fact happening, then I wish them luck, even if I disagree with some of their politics.

Caveman_Coder 9y ago

> "I suspect the reason so many people have trouble with the firing, and the responsibility stated in employee CoC is that it puts a lot of power in other people's hands." I disagree. I think people are upset, at least conservatives within Google, because they see this "against the CoC" idea selectively applied. I can tell you first hand that there were a lot of things said by those on the left, especially after the election, about conservatives that many felt violated the CoC, the issue is just that its a minority at Google that are conservative. I mean, after the election at the TGIF, a member of management basically told everyone to stand up and hug the person next to you and "it's going to be alright." If this isn't alienating, lacking in empathy, and downright rude toward the conservative Googlers, I don't know what is...

tchaffee 9y ago
I'm sure it's a little of both of what we said, and other reasons as well. One has to ask: did the conservative Googlers who felt intimidated or harassed by the hug session report that to HR or management? If the the CoC is selectively applied then people have to prove it, not just have a hunch about it and moan about it. They need do what every minority group in the past has done: collect stats, show the evidence, and take action. If this is in fact happening, then I wish them luck, even if I disagree with some of their politics.