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Note to Google Employees from CEO Sundar Pichai

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Re: Note to Google Employees from CEO Sundar Pichai

#71

Post by humanrebar »

h4l0 wrote: post #44
se2 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe you have misconstrued the message Sundar was giving. The difference between having the freedom to speak one's mind, and breaching a code of conduct that you sign when you agree to work for Google is clear cut in his note.

Misconduct would be expressing these views under his blog while putting emphasis on Google and blaming his company for what he finds unreasonable. He used internal messaging services. Someone leaked the document. That "someone" is sitting in his/her office today getting no punishment whatsoever.

I haven't read the code of conduct, and I'm disappointed the person was fired, but I presume there's a clause about saying bigoted things. And people consider parts of what he said bigoted.

Re: Note to Google Employees from CEO Sundar Pichai

#72

Post by ExploitsforFun »

SV has had major problems sheltering people in leadership who have used their positions to sexually exploit their female subordinates. Yet a mid level engineer publicly questions some of the company's diversity policies and gets fired. Many of publicly stated reasons about women leaving tech is predatory behavior by people in leadership. How about initiatives about getting rid of individuals like that.

Re: Note to Google Employees from CEO Sundar Pichai

#73

Post by spodek »

To Sundar Pichai:

How could someone express the views the author felt without getting fired, while still promoting discussion?

Is it possible, just possible, that Google's policies are counterproductive? If so, how would Google find out? By what process could someone change them?

If such processes exist, why would someone the company valued enough to hire risk his job to send this memo?

Is it possible that Google's environment does not accept some minority viewpoints despite your beliefs and attempts?

Re: Note to Google Employees from CEO Sundar Pichai

#74

Post by ryandvm »

koolba wrote: post #5

Quoting Sundar Pichai (Google CEO), emphasis mine: > At the same time, there are co-workers who are questioning whether they can safely express their views in the workplace (especially those with a minority viewpoint) . They too feel under threat, and that is also not OK. People must feel free to express dissent. So to be clear again, many points raised in the memo—such as the portions criticizing Google’s trainings,…

The moral of the story is something most adults figure out by their mid 20s: if you like your job, keep your mouth shut about your political/religious beliefs.

And despite what any employer will tell you about their workplace being an open forum, they are full of shit. What they mean is, it's an open forum to agree with management.

Re: Note to Google Employees from CEO Sundar Pichai

#75

Post by uncle_d »

trevyn wrote: post #31
dsfjksdf wrote: post #6

"The author had a right to express their views on those topics—we encourage an environment in which people can do this and it remains our policy to not take action against anyone for prompting these discussions." Maybe he missed the memo that the author has been fired? How is that encouraging for people with unpopular opinions?

Federal and California law protect your ability to discuss labor issues in the workplace -- this is CYA. See: https://www.recode.net/2016/6/2/11845456/nest-google-witchhu... (The outcome of the above story: the employee was rehired !)

Now that would be hilarious.

Re: Note to Google Employees from CEO Sundar Pichai

#76

Post by jamesrcole »

humanrebar wrote: post #71
h4l0 wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Misconduct would be expressing these views under his blog while putting emphasis on Google and blaming his company for what he finds unreasonable. He used internal messaging services. Someone leaked the document. That "someone" is sitting in his/her office today getting no punishment whatsoever.

I haven't read the code of conduct, and I'm disappointed the person was fired, but I presume there's a clause about saying bigoted things. And people consider parts of what he said bigoted.

> And people consider parts of what he said bigoted.

Is it enough for some people to consider it that?

Consider gay marriage. Each side thinks the other is being bigoted towards some group. Do we just take people's words for it?

Re: Note to Google Employees from CEO Sundar Pichai

#77

Post by tryingagainbro »

At the same time, there are co-workers who are questioning whether they can safely express their views in the workplace (especially those with a minority viewpoint)

Define "safely" and maybe you can express your viewpoint. The good news is that Google ain't gonna shoot you after a 15 minute trial (including appeals) but you'll get fired and blackballed. (Google could at least give this guy FU money with a wink and a nod.)

No company will hire you after rocking the boat....things have already been decided by those who scream loudest. WTF are you to question them now?

Re: Note to Google Employees from CEO Sundar Pichai

#79

Post by tryingagainbro »

se2 wrote: post #10
koolba wrote: post #5

Quoting Sundar Pichai (Google CEO), emphasis mine: > At the same time, there are co-workers who are questioning whether they can safely express their views in the workplace (especially those with a minority viewpoint) . They too feel under threat, and that is also not OK. People must feel free to express dissent. So to be clear again, many points raised in the memo—such as the portions criticizing Google’s trainings,…

I believe you have misconstrued the message Sundar was giving. The difference between having the freedom to speak one's mind, and breaching a code of conduct that you sign when you agree to work for Google is clear cut in his note.

I totally agree with you and Google. It's like "you can choose your car color, as long as it is black." https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Henry-Ford-say-%E2%80%9CA-cust...

Oh wait, maybe I don't agree with you...

Re: Note to Google Employees from CEO Sundar Pichai

#80

Post by JshWright »

tnone wrote: post #66
ck425 wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He explicitly says near the start of his article that he disagrees with the views on gender differences that the memo espouces, and that he's not getting into then because others are more qualified to do so.

Good thing the original memo author has a PhD in biology then. That post is a cowardly and smarmy non answer, and it contradicts itself in several ways. Aside from the one already mentioned, it claims making people feel bad at their job is inappropriate (even though the memo did no such thing) and then goes on to actually mock the author by claiming he sounds like he's bad at his job. Rules for thee but not for me. U…

> Good thing the original memo author has a PhD in biology then.

Your appeal to authority is pretty transparent... While the original memo author's work with various strains of yeast is indeed interesting, I'm not sure how it's relevant to the topic at hand...

An argument should stand on its own merits, not on a piece of paper on the author's wall.

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