Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

Politics
posted by takyon on Tuesday August 08 2017, @08:11PM   Printer-friendly
from the conversation-starter dept.

Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard

Alphabet Inc.'s Google has fired an employee who wrote an internal memo blasting the web company's diversity policies, creating a firestorm across Silicon Valley. James Damore, the Google engineer who wrote the note, confirmed his dismissal in an email, saying that he had been fired for "perpetuating gender stereotypes." He said he's "currently exploring all possible legal remedies."

[...] Earlier on Monday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai sent a note to employees that said portions of the memo "violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." But he didn't say if the company was taking action against the employee. A Google representative, asked about the dismissal, referred to Pichai's memo.

[...] After the controversy swelled, Danielle Brown, Google's new vice president for diversity, integrity and governance, sent a statement to staff condemning Damore's views and reaffirmed the company's stance on diversity. In internal discussion boards, multiple employees said they supported firing the author, and some said they would not choose to work with him, according to postings viewed by Bloomberg News.

"We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company," Brown said in the statement. "We'll continue to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul."

Source: Bloomberg.

[Update: Apparently Julian Assange has offered James Damore a job, saying that "Censorship is for losers". - Fnord666]

Previously: Googler's Memo on Culture of Diversity Extremism Goes Viral Inside Google


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Tuesday August 08 2017, @10:15PM (7 children)

    by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Tuesday August 08 2017, @10:15PM (#550791) Homepage Journal

    There was a time I wanted to work for Google in the worst way. I've had several interviews but always failed because my degree is not in computer science, so I'm weak in algorithm design.

    I decided a while back that I don't want to work for them because Google forgot all about "don't be evil".

    --
    Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 2) by kaszz on Tuesday August 08 2017, @11:02PM (4 children)

    by kaszz (4211) on Tuesday August 08 2017, @11:02PM (#550813) Journal

    Yeah, this will initiate the disinvestment in Google or any other organization that are a PC lapdog. Seems like they don't understand that they have seriously shoot themselves in the foot and global observers will deliver the bullet(s).

    Any suggestions to other employers that provide college type environment, free food, washing machines, massage etc on campus? and interesting challenges? Good salary doesn't hurt .. ;)

    • (Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Tuesday August 08 2017, @11:42PM (3 children)

      by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Tuesday August 08 2017, @11:42PM (#550826) Homepage Journal

      the whole office looks just like a bomb went off in a computer factory.

      --
      Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
      • (Score: 2) by kaszz on Wednesday August 09 2017, @12:29AM (2 children)

        by kaszz (4211) on Wednesday August 09 2017, @12:29AM (#550849) Journal

        Google offices are that chaotic?

        • (Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Wednesday August 09 2017, @12:39AM (1 child)

          by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Wednesday August 09 2017, @12:39AM (#550854) Homepage Journal

          There are grocery store-style refrigerators here and there which are kept stocked.

          The lunchrooms have no cash registers - lunch is free of charge for employees. The food is quite good, and I like to eat good food so for a long time I wanted to work there just for the lunches I'd get.

          Here in Beaverton Oregon, I buy a chili and iced tea from Wendy's for $4.28.

          But it least my clients aren't evil.

          --
          Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
          • (Score: 3, Touché) by kaszz on Wednesday August 09 2017, @01:13AM

            by kaszz (4211) on Wednesday August 09 2017, @01:13AM (#550867) Journal

            You have to arrange so you get free lunches and get freedom from clients ;-)

  • (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 08 2017, @11:09PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 08 2017, @11:09PM (#550816)

    Same here, though not for quite the same reason.

    I interviewed with them a bunch of times, for different jobs, and every single time they took so incredibly long that I was already hired by the time they were trying to organise round however-many.

    I finally called them and told them to stop calling me.

    Then, months later, they tried again. I had to explain to their poor HR drone (I mean, come on, not HER fault their HR system sniffs glue) that I was not accepting any job from Google because I wasn't willing to put up with the pain of their hiring process even if I weren't employed at the time (which I was). She was a little incredulous, and started to talk about their bennies, and I told her I'd only consider it as a high dollar independent contractor - which they wouldn't do, so don't bother calling.

    • (Score: 2) by kaszz on Tuesday August 08 2017, @11:58PM

      by kaszz (4211) on Tuesday August 08 2017, @11:58PM (#550834) Journal

      Have an number identifier phone answering machine that if google calls redirects them to a message that tells them this number is no longer available. BUT.. you will happily accept their calls on your 900-premium-rate telephone number. Where you will discuss the pros and cons of (maybe) working at google for hours..