Google collaborators Meredith Whittaker and Claire Stapleton helped organize protests against sexual harassment within Google in November. In an internal e-mail to their colleagues, they now complain that they have been punished by the company. This report, among others, the British "Guardian" and the US "Wired" consistent.
Many Google employees left their jobs temporarily on November 1 to protest against sexual assault on the job and Google's handling of such cases. Earlier it became known that Google has dismissed 48 employees on allegations of sexual harassment, including 13 managers.
The case of the Android inventor Andy Rubin, who despite alleged charges against him, was promised $ 90 million in severance pay, caused a stir at the time. After the protest of the employees, Google boss Sundar Pichai promised measures against sexual assault, he had recognized the anger and frustration in the company.
However, in the current internal letter, which the Wired has completely published, it is now said that Google is loathing the organizers of the protests, including Whittaker and Stapleton. Whittaker's job in the house should therefore change significantly after Google has dissolved its AI Ethics Council again. She must give up her previous work on the subject of Artificial Intelligence and Ethics.
Stapleton writes that she has been demoted and released from certain jobs. In addition, she was advised to be released for health reasons, "even though I'm not sick."
There is a culture of retribution in the company - which need not always be obvious, the letter goes on to say. Therefore, the two ask their colleagues to call possible further cases and invite the employees to a meeting on Friday.
Google itself told the Wired that the company prohibits retaliation in the workplace and investigates any allegations. However, employees would regularly get new assignments or be employed differently. "There was no retaliation here," said a company spokesman.