Published November 08, 2018
In the wake of severe employee backlash and thousands walking out around the world demanding change, Google has updated its sexual harassment policy, apologizing to its employees, adding "it's clear we need to make some changes."
The email, from CEO Sundar Pichai, outlines a series of changes the company will make to ensure more transparency on concerns, providing better support and care to the people who raise these issues and "double down on our commitment to be a representative, equitable, and respectful workplace."
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As outlined in the email, here are some of the changes Google will be making:
Pichai added that "this is an area where we need to continually make progress and are committed to doing so."
The email comes just days after thousands of Google employees across the globe walked out of their respective offices in protest at the company's response to previous sexual harassment cases and pay inequality, demanding changes.
"We were disgusted by the details of the recent New York Times article, which provided the latest example of a culture of complicity, dismissiveness, and support for perpetrators in the face of sexual harassment, misconduct, and abuse of power," organizers of the #GoogleWalkout said in a statement to Fox News. "Sadly, this is part of a longstanding problem, one further amplified by systemic racism. We know this culture well."
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In New York City, throngs of Google employees filled a nearby park to capacity, carrying signs that said "Times Up Tech" and "Workers Rights Are Women's Rights." Pichai was aware of the walkouts and appeared to give tacit approval of the measure.
"What you read in the New York Times are a small sampling of the thousands of stories we all have, the thousands of stories we carry for each other, the thousands of instances of abuse of power, discrimination, harassment and a pattern of unethical and thoughtless decision-making that has marked this company for the last year and that has marked our culture and scarred so many of us," said Meredith Whittaker, Google Open Reseach founder and an organizer of the demonstration, to the assembled crowd not far from Google's New York City office in Chelsea.
The walkout drew large crowds in several cities where Google maintains offices, including Dublin, Zurich, London, Tokyo and Singapore. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, currently employs 94,372 people as of its most recent quarter.
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Last month, Pichai apologized after the New York Times reported Google paid Android creator Andy Rubin a $90 million severance package after a sexual harassment complaint. The Times report also mentioned Rich DeVaul, the former director at Alphabet 's research arm, X. DeVaul resigned from the company and did not receive a severance package, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Fox News' Christopher Carbone contributed to this report. Follow Chris Ciaccia on Twitter @Chris_Ciaccia
https://www.foxnews.com/tech/google-updates-sexual-harassment-policy-after-massive-employee-protests