By Olivia Maskill
At 11am on November 1st 2018, around 20,000 Google employees across 50 cities walked out of their offices. A historically coordinated protest, from Tokyo to California, in response to Google HQ’s tolerance of sexual misconduct among its executives.
Andy Rubin, one of the principal creators of Google's Android Smartphone system, received a $90 million farewell package and a handshake after allegations of his sexual harassment against female employees were proven to be credible. Rubin denies these allegations.
This sort of payout has been received by at least one other disgraced executive, with yet another still being kept on staff despite serious allegations against him. In all three cases the hands of the victims were tied, written into their employment contracts are mandatory arbitration clauses, meaning disputes must handled privately and not in public court. This has enabled the tech giant to cover up allegations of sexual misconduct with relative ease, keeping their dirty laundry relatively hidden from the public eye.
The example of Rubin is just one top-of-the-ladder example of most likely thousands of incidents covered up globally by the multi-billion dollar corporation, with many coming forward as saying reporting sexually inappropriate behaviour at work has led to months or even years of litigations with human resources officials. “I’m here protesting against harassment in the workplace, to make sure we don’t protect or support those perpetrators of harassment,” said one demonstrator. “People are supporting those who have been harassed in any workplace situation, by any employer, and this is just part of the movement.”
Sundar Pichai, Google’s Chief Executive, said this in an email to staff following the walkouts “I understand the anger and disappointment that many of you feel, I feel it as well, and I am fully committed to making progress on an issue that has persisted for far too long in our society and, yes, here at Google, too.”
Yet he failed to mention the Rubin scandal directly, or comment on any other case directly. He also declined to mention how mandatory arbitration directly benefits the company, while permitting abusers to maintain their reputations, and even their jobs.
Activists were also protesting for closure of the gender pay gap at Google, and other instances of institutionalised sexism at the company.
Many women employed at Google are tired of the inequality they face in the workplace, at the NYC walkout, Google software engineer Amelia Brunner stated, “People will doubt my work a lot more than they will doubt my male colleagues,” she said. “You will get talked down more in meetings.” “There's a trickle-down effect “ she said. “How are you supposed to rise in the ranks?”
Forced arbitration in cases of discrimination and harassment are simply tools harassers can use to silence their victims, and permits sexism and racism to persist. Companies should do more to hold themselves accountable for the actions of their executives, instead of shying away from public scrutiny.
“I feel like I’m leading young girls and boys to the slaughter,” said one speaker, who identified herself as an employee who works on Android applications for children. “I mean, why would you want to go into tech if it’s like this?”
#metoo is not just a movement for the entertainment industry, it is for women worldwide in all professions. Workers rights and women’s rights were always be intricately interconnected, but not forever so overlooked.
In a climate where women are already so restricted from being in technological fields, due to sexism throughout their education, it is fundamental that Google creates a safe space for its female employees. Although in the 21st century, I can’t believe this has to be said.