Google fires four employees, including staffer tied to protests
- Google said it fired several employees due to violations of its data-security policies
- Some Google staff have been protesting in the past two years over various issues including its handling of sexual harassment cases and work with the military
Alphabet Inc.’s Google sent an email describing the decision, titled “Securing our data,” to all employees on Monday, according to a copy of the document obtained by Bloomberg News. The company confirmed the contents of the memo but declined to comment further.
Some Google staff have been protesting and organising in the past two years over issues including the company’s work with the military, a censored search service in China and its handling of executives accused of sexual harassment.
In recent weeks, some workers have cited management moves – such as implementing a tracking tool on employee’s web browsers and hiring a consulting firm known for anti-union work – as attempts to curb activism. The company has denied those charges.
One Google employee wrote on Twitter that the company was firing the employees to stamp out internal dissension.
On Friday, more than 200 people demonstrated outside Google’s San Francisco office for a protest organised by staff. The protesters demanded the company reinstate two employees who had been put on administrative leave, Rebecca Rivers and Laurence Berland.