2018 Google walkouts: A Year of Protest and Change

The Google walkouts of 2018 were a pivotal moment in the tech industry's history. On November 1, 2018, thousands of Google employees took to the streets to protest the company's handling of sexual harassment allegations.

The walkouts were sparked by a New York Times exposé that revealed Google had paid out millions of dollars in exit packages to executives accused of misconduct, including Android creator Andy Rubin. The company's response to the allegations was seen as inadequate, leading to widespread outrage among employees.

The walkouts were a global phenomenon, with employees in over 50 cities participating. The protests were organized by a group of Google employees who formed a committee to address the issue of sexual harassment and misconduct within the company.

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On November 1, 2018, over 20,000 Google employees staged a worldwide walkout to protest the company's handling of sexual harassment cases and other grievances.

The walkout was a response to a New York Times report that exposed executives receiving large severance packages despite facing sexual misconduct allegations.

It all started just one week prior, when the New York Times report named Andy Rubin as having been paid a $90 million severance package.

The core organizers of the walkout were a group of seven Google employees, including Claire Stapleton, Tanuja Gupta, Meredith Whittaker, Celie O'Neil-Hart, Stephanie Parker, Erica Anderson, and Amr Gaber.

These organizers managed to organize the walkout in less than three days, a remarkable feat given the short timeframe.

The walkout lasted for a half hour, with employees using flyers to explain their actions.

The flyers read: "Hi. I’m not at my desk because I’m walking out in solidarity with other Googlers and contractors to protest sexual harassment, misconduct, lack of transparency, and a workplace culture that’s not working for everyone."

Employees held up signs during the walkout, including one that said "What do I do at Google? I work hard every day so the company can afford $90,000,000 payouts to execs who sexually harass my co-workers".

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In 2018, contract workers for Google wrote an open letter with demands addressing disparities between employees and contractors.

One of the key demands was for pay-data transparency, but unfortunately, there was no response to this demand.

Timnit Gebru, an AI specialist, faced a dismissal situation in 2020 that sparked further activism at Google.

Google employees walked out in protest in 2018, marking a new era of tech workers banding together to influence their companies' actions.

Here are some of the commitments made by Google as a result of the walkout:

Retaliation and union suppression were major concerns for Google employees following the 2018 walkouts. Google hired IRI Consulting, a company that provides anti-unionization services, in late 2019.

The Tech Workers Coalition provided a retaliation hotline for employees who faced retribution for participating in the walkouts. This indicates the level of concern and fear among employees.

Two of the Google Walkouts organizers, Claire Stapleton and Meredith Whittaker, claimed that Google retaliated against them by attempting to force them out or demote them. This suggests a pattern of retaliation against employees who spoke out.

In late 2019, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) opened an investigation into the firing of four Google employees over their efforts to unionize.

Employers often use company response as a means to retaliate against employees who engage in union activities.

Some companies may claim that they are simply enforcing company policies, but a closer look reveals that these policies are often used to suppress union activity.

The company may claim that an employee's union activity is interfering with their work, but in reality, the company is trying to intimidate the employee into quitting the union.

In some cases, employers may even go so far as to fire employees who engage in union activities, claiming that they are "at-will" employees and can be terminated for any reason.

A notable example of this is the case of the employees at a major manufacturing plant, where the company fired several employees who were involved in union organizing efforts, claiming that they were "excess" employees.

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Google's efforts to suppress union involvement are a major concern. The Tech Workers Coalition provided a retaliation hotline during the Google Walkouts for employees who faced retribution for their participation.

Two Google employees, Claire Stapleton and Meredith Whittaker, claimed that Google retaliated against them following the Google Walkouts by attempting to force them out or demote them. They organized a sit-in on May 1, 2019, International Workers' Day.

In late 2019, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) opened an investigation into the firing of four Google employees over their efforts to unionize. The NLRB filed a complaint stating that the fired workers were not responsible for any wrongdoing and accused Google of "terminations and intimidation in order to quell workplace activism".

Google hired IRI Consulting, a company that provides anti-unionization services, in late 2019. This move raises concerns about Google's commitment to worker rights.

Contract workers for Google wrote an open letter in December 2018 with demands addressing disparities between employees and contractors. This highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in Google's treatment of contract workers.

The Google walkout led to a new era of tech workers banding together to influence their companies' actions. A commitment to end pay and opportunity inequity, provide data on compensation gaps, and make those data accessible to all Google and Alphabet employees and contractors was one of the key demands made by the workers.

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Here are some key demands made by the workers:

Google's responses to the walkouts were largely focused on reiterating their commitment to past diversity objectives and improving the process for reporting harassment.

Many of the demands made by employees were met or partly met, with the company making efforts to address the concerns raised.

Google announced the end of forced arbitration for employees for all claims in February 2019.

The company also published a private, internal report on sexual assault cases, although employees had demanded a public report.

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In 2018, contract workers for Google wrote an open letter with demands addressing disparities between employees and contractors.

The Google walkout in 2018 was a pivotal moment that transformed tech workers into activists. It was a year ago that 20,000 Google employees walked out in protest.

The walkout birthed a new era of tech workers banding together to influence their companies' actions. This movement was driven by a commitment to end pay and opportunity inequity.

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A key demand was for Google to provide data on compensation gaps by race, gender, and ethnicity. This data was to be made accessible to all Google and Alphabet employees and contractors.

However, Google did not respond to the demand for pay-data transparency. Despite this, the walkout was still a significant success in bringing attention to these issues.

One of the walkout's organizers, Stapleton, said she hopes Google can change its culture. She noted that the past week had actually restored her faith in the company.

Stapleton also mentioned that they had tremendous allies, including men who supported the walkout. This support helped to make the walkout feel inclusive and bigger than one executive payout.

The 2018 Google walkouts were a pivotal moment in tech history, marking a shift in the way tech workers engage with their companies.

20,000 Google employees walked out in protest, a clear indication of their desire for change.

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The walkout led to a renewed commitment to past diversity objectives, including considering a diverse candidate slate for roles at the director level or above.

This commitment was a significant step towards creating a more inclusive work environment.

The walkout also led to a promise to create a team specifically dedicated to handling harassment complaints.

Outside firms providing Google with contract workers are required to maintain their own processes for investigating harassment claims.

Johana Bhuiyan, a former investigative reporter, covered the technology industry with a focus on accountability, highlighting the importance of transparency in tech companies.

The walkout's organizers, including Stapleton, aimed to create a culture of inclusivity and accountability within Google.

"We have tremendous allies", Stapleton said, highlighting the support of men in the walkout.

Google faced allegations of retaliation against its employees who participated in the Google Walkouts.

The Tech Workers Coalition provided a retaliation hotline for employees who faced retribution.

Two of the Google Walkouts organizers, Claire Stapleton and Meredith Whittaker, claimed Google retaliated against them by attempting to force them out or demote them.

They organized a sit-in on May 1, 2019, International Workers' Day.

By July 2019, four of the seven organizers, including Stapleton and Whittaker, had left the company.

This raises concerns about the impact of retaliation on employees' ability to speak out.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) opened an investigation into the firing of four Google employees over their efforts to unionize.

The investigation found that the fired workers were not responsible for any wrongdoing.

Google was accused of "terminations and intimidation in order to quell workplace activism" and unlawful surveillance for accessing employees' calendars and internal documents.

The administrative hearing for the case is scheduled for April 12, 2021.

Google hired IRI Consulting, a company that provides anti-unionization services, in late 2019.

This move has sparked concerns about Google's commitment to employee rights.

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