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The distinction here is that Google employees are not legally banned from speaking as a private citizen about the company they work for. They just won't be emp

The distinction here is that Google employees are not legally banned from speaking as a private citizen about the company they work for. They just won't be employees of Google for much longer after Google finds out. I don't like that any more than you do. Corporations have far too much power in the US, and way more control over the lives of ordinary citizens than they should. But, there's nothing against the rules here. And, that's the way big corporations like it. Note that Google employees are still free to donate money or otherwise assist organizations calling for Google to be broken up. While Google may not like this, it's highly unlikely they'll ever find out about it.

Nullabillity 6y ago
> The distinction here is that Google employees are not legally banned from speaking as a private citizen about the company they work for. They just won't be employees of Google for much longer after Google finds out. A distinction without a difference, the intended effect is still the same: discouraging people from speaking out. > I don't like that any more than you do. Corporations have far too much power in the US, and way more control over the lives of ordinary citizens than they should. But, there's nothing against the rules here. Then surely the focus should be on changing the rules and pushing back what little we can, not making excuses about how it is technically not illegal.
- shadowgovt 6y ago
  Speaking out about legal violations is not only allowed, it's protected by whistleblowing laws. It's an adversarial process, but legally protected. What Google frowns upon, and will terminate an employee legally for, is speculation outside of that legally-protected space. So going to the SEC with evidence Google is acting bad? Legally protected. Circulating in an email "hey, is thing X that team Y is doing monopolistic?" No, and you'll get canned for having that discussion in an unprivileged environment without legal counsel present.
- pmiller2 6y ago
  Look, I'm not making an excuse. I'm telling you how it is. The problem here is that big corporations have captured the political process in this country. Your representatives in Washington probably don't represent you; they're responsive to the people who fund their campaigns, and, unless you're a billionaire or something, that's not you.
chii 6y ago
> While Google may not like this, it's highly unlikely they'll ever find out about it. if you donated or is affiliated with _any_ political cause, and google fired you for that reason, then they've committed illegal discrimination against you. However, this political affiliation/activism needs to be conducted outside working hours, lest it be associated with google's official public stance or incur liabilities. You actions as an employee could be misrepresented as the position of google, and they are well within their rights to restrict how you represent yourself during office hours, and they should also be allowed to prevent you from mis-representing yourself too (i.e., you cannot use your position as an employee to act as an agent of political activism or affiliation unless authorized by the owners of google).
- pmiller2 6y ago
  > if you donated or is affiliated with _any_ political cause, and google fired you for that reason, then they've committed illegal discrimination against you. I believe that's only the case in California and a handful of other states. For instance: "Can an employer fire or discriminate against an employee based on political beliefs? You may be surprised to learn that, for many employees, the answer is yes." [0] --- [0]: https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/can-employers-discriminate-based-on-political-beliefs-or-affiliation.html https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/can-employers-discri...

Nullabillity 6y ago

> The distinction here is that Google employees are not legally banned from speaking as a private citizen about the company they work for. They just won't be employees of Google for much longer after Google finds out. A distinction without a difference, the intended effect is still the same: discouraging people from speaking out. > I don't like that any more than you do. Corporations have far too much power in the US, and way more control over the lives of ordinary citizens than they should. But, there's nothing against the rules here. Then surely the focus should be on changing the rules and pushing back what little we can, not making excuses about how it is technically not illegal.

shadowgovt 6y ago
Speaking out about legal violations is not only allowed, it's protected by whistleblowing laws. It's an adversarial process, but legally protected. What Google frowns upon, and will terminate an employee legally for, is speculation outside of that legally-protected space. So going to the SEC with evidence Google is acting bad? Legally protected. Circulating in an email "hey, is thing X that team Y is doing monopolistic?" No, and you'll get canned for having that discussion in an unprivileged environment without legal counsel present.
pmiller2 6y ago
Look, I'm not making an excuse. I'm telling you how it is. The problem here is that big corporations have captured the political process in this country. Your representatives in Washington probably don't represent you; they're responsive to the people who fund their campaigns, and, unless you're a billionaire or something, that's not you.

chii 6y ago

> While Google may not like this, it's highly unlikely they'll ever find out about it. if you donated or is affiliated with _any_ political cause, and google fired you for that reason, then they've committed illegal discrimination against you. However, this political affiliation/activism needs to be conducted outside working hours, lest it be associated with google's official public stance or incur liabilities. You actions as an employee could be misrepresented as the position of google, and they are well within their rights to restrict how you represent yourself during office hours, and they should also be allowed to prevent you from mis-representing yourself too (i.e., you cannot use your position as an employee to act as an agent of political activism or affiliation unless authorized by the owners of google).

pmiller2 6y ago
> if you donated or is affiliated with _any_ political cause, and google fired you for that reason, then they've committed illegal discrimination against you. I believe that's only the case in California and a handful of other states. For instance: "Can an employer fire or discriminate against an employee based on political beliefs? You may be surprised to learn that, for many employees, the answer is yes." [0] --- [0]: https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/can-employers-discriminate-based-on-political-beliefs-or-affiliation.html https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/can-employers-discri...