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I think it's a fatal mistake to underestimate the amount of discretion an employer has over its employees' behavior. In general, employment is at-will and relat

I think it's a fatal mistake to underestimate the amount of discretion an employer has over its employees' behavior. In general, employment is at-will and relationships can end over personal differences. One reason it might be shocking to be let go over a 'free-speech' issue is this individual was working at Google. If someone worked for their city government and mailed around a ten-page manifesto of either their genius findings or deluded beliefs (either way), it's not unreasonable that they might be let go without anyone reading it. (The action of sending around an opinionated piece of information without authority could be grounds for dismissal.) In the past, there have been incidents like Steve Y's note where a smart person weathered a major faux pas for better or worse, which might make one think that all forms of speech are encouraged at this company. But I think Damore made some unique foibles when publishing this note and assumed that his outlook and motivation would be either respected or endorsed. Again, it is not a necessity for any corporation or organization to do so. I also doubt that internal employee message boards or collective Word documents are the correct forum for this sort of debate. Given that the adversaries that Damore faces in this debate have most liked studied diversity and human resources at the graduate level, peppering survey references into a narrative argument will not be sufficiently persuasive of anything. The correct forum for this discussion is an anthropology thesis or something similar, or a very finely combed, deeply vetted, considerate action to a relevant party or audience.

humanrebar 9y ago
> I also doubt that internal employee message boards or collective Word documents are the correct forum for this sort of debate. What is the right forum?
- xigency 9y ago
  If it were a collective issue for employees, then it should be organized outside of work without using any company resources. There an upset employee could vent and strategize for change in a non-destructive way, and find support from his peers. If it were an issue that needed to be specifically addressed by management, then it should be elevated to each level of management in turn (immediate superior, superior's superior, VP, CEO, board) in a tactful way. There's no reason Damore couldn't have done both of these, and as was said by one of the female engineers, advertise his own opinions publicly himself as they apply to all companies. It's still possible that making so many waves like that would get him dismissed, but certainly not in the same way. Reading the letter, this is clearly something that James is passionate about. If he can find a way to channel that in a professional and constructive way, maybe he can make positive change. But as it were, he did say some offensive things publicly.
- Delmania 9y ago
  For this conversation? A woman. He should have given that document to a female friend, told her it would probably offend her, and ask for her advice on how to improve it. He should have been there and watched her reaction as she read it. the single greatest fault of forums is that they do not give people a chance to read someone else's body language.
alexandercrohde 9y ago
As I understand it he was raising on an internal issue that was generally accepted as open for discussion (hiring and quotas). I think likening it to "mailing a manifesto out" is a deliberate mischaracterization.
- xigency 9y ago
  This article is the first I've seen on this memo and by the spread of it inside and outside the company that's what it appeared to be. I'm not trying to mischaracterize the issue. In fact, I don't have all of the information.
  - alexandercrohde 9y ago
    That's fair

humanrebar 9y ago

> I also doubt that internal employee message boards or collective Word documents are the correct forum for this sort of debate. What is the right forum?

xigency 9y ago
If it were a collective issue for employees, then it should be organized outside of work without using any company resources. There an upset employee could vent and strategize for change in a non-destructive way, and find support from his peers. If it were an issue that needed to be specifically addressed by management, then it should be elevated to each level of management in turn (immediate superior, superior's superior, VP, CEO, board) in a tactful way. There's no reason Damore couldn't have done both of these, and as was said by one of the female engineers, advertise his own opinions publicly himself as they apply to all companies. It's still possible that making so many waves like that would get him dismissed, but certainly not in the same way. Reading the letter, this is clearly something that James is passionate about. If he can find a way to channel that in a professional and constructive way, maybe he can make positive change. But as it were, he did say some offensive things publicly.
Delmania 9y ago
For this conversation? A woman. He should have given that document to a female friend, told her it would probably offend her, and ask for her advice on how to improve it. He should have been there and watched her reaction as she read it. the single greatest fault of forums is that they do not give people a chance to read someone else's body language.

alexandercrohde 9y ago

As I understand it he was raising on an internal issue that was generally accepted as open for discussion (hiring and quotas). I think likening it to "mailing a manifesto out" is a deliberate mischaracterization.

xigency 9y ago
This article is the first I've seen on this memo and by the spread of it inside and outside the company that's what it appeared to be. I'm not trying to mischaracterize the issue. In fact, I don't have all of the information.
- alexandercrohde 9y ago
  That's fair