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They probably don't like it but also believe that the walk out doesn't _do_ anything. To clarify even further, there's been a lot internal messaging internally

by gretch 8y ago

They probably don't like it but also believe that the walk out doesn't _do_ anything. To clarify even further, there's been a lot internal messaging internally from execs condemning sexual harassment and assault since the news cycle. If one believes this messaging, then walking out adds almost nothing more to the situation. If you think the execs are lying to you at all, but especially on this topic, you probably already quit (most google employees don't have problems finding alternative employment)

ctvo 8y ago
What other forms of protest would you suggest that _does_ do something? Or do you have an issue with protesting at all? Can I summarize your reply as if you don't like it quit?
- gretch 8y ago
  I think you put a lot of words into my mouth. It would wrong to summarize my argument as that because I made no recommendations to the course of action anyone should take. I only tried to explain the mentality of a non-walker (source: I will probably not walk tomorrow, unless maybe there's good snacks) I don't have any issue with this form of protesting, I'm just explaining why I don't do it. I like to help bring about change by 1) being the change I want to see in the world 2) convincing a small group of more personal connections to see things my way I think if we all did that, the world could be a good place
sp332 8y ago
No way, these employees don't get paid by the hour and they aren't going to pull from their PTO to protest. Having a bunch of employees standing around being unproductive hits them right in the wallet. Management is going to listen to this above almost any other signal.
- chronic1921 8y ago
  > Having a bunch of employees standing around being unproductive hits them right in the wallet. Google can quickly fire them and have replacements onboarded by the end of this week.
- gcc1993 8y ago
  The thing is that my whole management chain is going to the protests and have said they are for it (and they also have been changing sexual harassment policies the last few years anyway). The protest has lost a lot of value because the people we ostensibly protest against are already there agreeing with us.
  - sp332 8y ago
    That's only true if you were protesting against people and not bad behavior. Getting management to be visibly on your side should give your demands a lot more power.
    - gcc1993 8y ago
      Yeah but the main complaint (i.e. the large exit package) was already changed a few years before this. To be clear I'm walking out for the protest but I don't really see this as a big fight against management, if I think that my managers are lying to me at every level and they don't take sexual assault them I should just leave the company. The thing is that while I don't agree with a lot of what they say they've generally been sincere with me in the past.
- gretch 8y ago
  > Having a bunch of employees standing around being unproductive hits them right in the wallet But this is already true, whether there is a walk out or not. Even if they are sitting at their desks, if the employees are all frustrated and have other matters on their mind, are they producing good work? I would say no Execs see the battle has already been lost, because it has been. The company morale has been hit, doesn't matter if walking or sitting at your desk or whatever.
- thrower123 8y ago
  How much does a couple of hours of people standing in the parking lot waving signs really cost them? It's not like Google is a manufacturer where the assembly line comes to a stop if nobody is on the line; everything should be automated so that a handful of people can keep the servers humming along in the data centers. Maybe a few status meetings of dubious worth don't happen, or a little less email gets shuffled around. Most people aren't actually doing anything that really affects the bottom line in a typical software company. Maybe if a few people performed acts of sabotage as a statement, that would make a dent, but that would effectively be suicidal.
itronitron 8y ago
how long do execs last at Google if they lie to their reports?

by gretch 8y ago

ctvo 8y ago

What other forms of protest would you suggest that _does_ do something? Or do you have an issue with protesting at all? Can I summarize your reply as if you don't like it quit?

gretch 8y ago
I think you put a lot of words into my mouth. It would wrong to summarize my argument as that because I made no recommendations to the course of action anyone should take. I only tried to explain the mentality of a non-walker (source: I will probably not walk tomorrow, unless maybe there's good snacks) I don't have any issue with this form of protesting, I'm just explaining why I don't do it. I like to help bring about change by 1) being the change I want to see in the world 2) convincing a small group of more personal connections to see things my way I think if we all did that, the world could be a good place

sp332 8y ago

No way, these employees don't get paid by the hour and they aren't going to pull from their PTO to protest. Having a bunch of employees standing around being unproductive hits them right in the wallet. Management is going to listen to this above almost any other signal.

chronic1921 8y ago
> Having a bunch of employees standing around being unproductive hits them right in the wallet. Google can quickly fire them and have replacements onboarded by the end of this week.
gcc1993 8y ago
The thing is that my whole management chain is going to the protests and have said they are for it (and they also have been changing sexual harassment policies the last few years anyway). The protest has lost a lot of value because the people we ostensibly protest against are already there agreeing with us.
- sp332 8y ago
  That's only true if you were protesting against people and not bad behavior. Getting management to be visibly on your side should give your demands a lot more power.
  - gcc1993 8y ago
    Yeah but the main complaint (i.e. the large exit package) was already changed a few years before this. To be clear I'm walking out for the protest but I don't really see this as a big fight against management, if I think that my managers are lying to me at every level and they don't take sexual assault them I should just leave the company. The thing is that while I don't agree with a lot of what they say they've generally been sincere with me in the past.
gretch 8y ago
> Having a bunch of employees standing around being unproductive hits them right in the wallet But this is already true, whether there is a walk out or not. Even if they are sitting at their desks, if the employees are all frustrated and have other matters on their mind, are they producing good work? I would say no Execs see the battle has already been lost, because it has been. The company morale has been hit, doesn't matter if walking or sitting at your desk or whatever.
thrower123 8y ago
How much does a couple of hours of people standing in the parking lot waving signs really cost them? It's not like Google is a manufacturer where the assembly line comes to a stop if nobody is on the line; everything should be automated so that a handful of people can keep the servers humming along in the data centers. Maybe a few status meetings of dubious worth don't happen, or a little less email gets shuffled around. Most people aren't actually doing anything that really affects the bottom line in a typical software company. Maybe if a few people performed acts of sabotage as a statement, that would make a dent, but that would effectively be suicidal.

itronitron 8y ago

how long do execs last at Google if they lie to their reports?