Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Alphabet’s Chief Legal Officer Stepping Down Amid Investigation

nytimes.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 311 posts

Re: Alphabet’s Chief Legal Officer Stepping Down Amid Investigation

#21

Post by matheusmoreira »

jakobegger wrote: post #13
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He specifies that he was there over 20 years, prior to the company being incorporated, and only joined full-time in 2002. That being said: David Drummond is a terrible person[0], who only has been there this long because of Larry Page and Sergey Brin's protection, because they are terrible people too[1][2]. The way Google's highest executives have treated women is disgusting and inexcusable. And while Drummond may no…

> After our son was born, I received a call from HR notifying me that one of us would have to leave the legal department where David was now Chief Legal Officer (...) This sounds like the worst possible policy I can think of. Get pregnant from your boss, and HR kicks you from the team! How does that help anyone?

> Get pregnant from your boss

There isn't much anyone can do to prevent disaster after this.

Re: Alphabet’s Chief Legal Officer Stepping Down Amid Investigation

#22

Post by im3w1l »

jakobegger wrote: post #13
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He specifies that he was there over 20 years, prior to the company being incorporated, and only joined full-time in 2002. That being said: David Drummond is a terrible person[0], who only has been there this long because of Larry Page and Sergey Brin's protection, because they are terrible people too[1][2]. The way Google's highest executives have treated women is disgusting and inexcusable. And while Drummond may no…

> After our son was born, I received a call from HR notifying me that one of us would have to leave the legal department where David was now Chief Legal Officer (...) This sounds like the worst possible policy I can think of. Get pregnant from your boss, and HR kicks you from the team! How does that help anyone?

It's not a punishment, it's to prevent nepotism and moral hazard. I think normally they will try to place you in the same role in some other project but that may not have been possible in this case(?)

Re: Alphabet’s Chief Legal Officer Stepping Down Amid Investigation

#23

Post by ProAm »

jacquesm wrote: post #16
onetimemanytime wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, she thought that he'd marry, and stay faithful to her. She knew the deal, should be happy with child support...the rest is bitter grapes

You clearly did not read the linked article.

Yes, this is a woman who entered a relationship and it didnt work out. Ive definitely read it and this is not a #metoo story. He didnt force himself up on, he didnt take advantage of her, he didnt threaten her, he didnt demand she date him, it's about dating someone at work when there are clear rules around it. No one said she had to leave the department, but that one of them would have to leave. It's a tragically sad story, especially for the child, but this was two consenting adults in an adult relationship that was full of bad choices.

Re: Alphabet’s Chief Legal Officer Stepping Down Amid Investigation

#24

Post by TallGuyShort »

snowwrestler wrote: post #19
jakobegger wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> After our son was born, I received a call from HR notifying me that one of us would have to leave the legal department where David was now Chief Legal Officer (...) This sounds like the worst possible policy I can think of. Get pregnant from your boss, and HR kicks you from the team! How does that help anyone?

The right way to implement a policy like that is to say that supervisors are not permitted to have relationships with their subordinates. That way, if such a relationship develops against the rules, it's clear upon whom the consequences should fall: the supervisor. Supervisors get more money and power from the organization than their subordinates, so it's fair for the organization to have higher expectations for the…

Agreed, but a bigger factor is the power differential, IMO: the boss has the higher need to maintain at least an image of impartiality, and it's harder for the subordinate to resist advances knowing that the giver is key in deciding when they can and can't get time off, pay rises, etc.

Re: Alphabet’s Chief Legal Officer Stepping Down Amid Investigation

#25

Post by zozbot234 »

im3w1l wrote: post #22
jakobegger wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> After our son was born, I received a call from HR notifying me that one of us would have to leave the legal department where David was now Chief Legal Officer (...) This sounds like the worst possible policy I can think of. Get pregnant from your boss, and HR kicks you from the team! How does that help anyone?

It's not a punishment, it's to prevent nepotism and moral hazard. I think normally they will try to place you in the same role in some other project but that may not have been possible in this case(?)

The way you implement that is by proactively asking for a transfer before the relationship comes to light. If you don't do that, this is essentially proof that you were seeking to abuse the situation in some way hence penalties (on the supervisor, see my side comment) are very much appropriate.

Re: Alphabet’s Chief Legal Officer Stepping Down Amid Investigation

#26

Post by nostrademons »

snowwrestler wrote: post #19
jakobegger wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> After our son was born, I received a call from HR notifying me that one of us would have to leave the legal department where David was now Chief Legal Officer (...) This sounds like the worst possible policy I can think of. Get pregnant from your boss, and HR kicks you from the team! How does that help anyone?

The right way to implement a policy like that is to say that supervisors are not permitted to have relationships with their subordinates. That way, if such a relationship develops against the rules, it's clear upon whom the consequences should fall: the supervisor. Supervisors get more money and power from the organization than their subordinates, so it's fair for the organization to have higher expectations for the…

Google had one that said exactly that when I joined in 2009, but that post-dates the alleged affair(s) here, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was introduced directly because of this.

Drummond wasn't the only one engaged in such shenanigans, too - I can think of at least half a dozen executives (including both founders) who engaged in relationships within their reporting chain.

Re: Alphabet’s Chief Legal Officer Stepping Down Amid Investigation

#27

Post by thrwn_frthr_awy »

lacker wrote: post #11

These sexual misconduct investigations at Google are really finding some critical stuff. At this point my guess is that it is related to the Larry and Sergey resignations, and we will eventually hear information that reflects poorly on them directly.

We've heard it already. They literally had a "masseuse room" where Sergey would have sex with employees inside the Google building.

Re: Alphabet’s Chief Legal Officer Stepping Down Amid Investigation

#28

Post by ProAm »

jakobegger wrote: post #13
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He specifies that he was there over 20 years, prior to the company being incorporated, and only joined full-time in 2002. That being said: David Drummond is a terrible person[0], who only has been there this long because of Larry Page and Sergey Brin's protection, because they are terrible people too[1][2]. The way Google's highest executives have treated women is disgusting and inexcusable. And while Drummond may no…

> After our son was born, I received a call from HR notifying me that one of us would have to leave the legal department where David was now Chief Legal Officer (...) This sounds like the worst possible policy I can think of. Get pregnant from your boss, and HR kicks you from the team! How does that help anyone?

They knew the relationship was against company policy from the get go, what did they think was going happen? Two people made a poor decision and have to live with the consequences?

> aware that our relationship was in violation of Google’s new policy which went from “discouraging” direct-reporting-line relationships to outright banning them.

Re: Alphabet’s Chief Legal Officer Stepping Down Amid Investigation

#29

Post by ocdtrekkie »

ProAm wrote: post #28
jakobegger wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> After our son was born, I received a call from HR notifying me that one of us would have to leave the legal department where David was now Chief Legal Officer (...) This sounds like the worst possible policy I can think of. Get pregnant from your boss, and HR kicks you from the team! How does that help anyone?

They knew the relationship was against company policy from the get go, what did they think was going happen? Two people made a poor decision and have to live with the consequences? > aware that our relationship was in violation of Google’s new policy which went from “discouraging” direct-reporting-line relationships to outright banning them.

Both people knew it was wrong, but Larry and Sergey's best buddy got promoted to become one of the most powerful executives on the planet and paid hundreds of millions of dollars, and the woman got pushed out of her job and left to support their kid herself.

Re: Alphabet’s Chief Legal Officer Stepping Down Amid Investigation

#30

Post by johnhughes »

lacker wrote: post #11

These sexual misconduct investigations at Google are really finding some critical stuff. At this point my guess is that it is related to the Larry and Sergey resignations, and we will eventually hear information that reflects poorly on them directly.

Larry Page used to “date” Marissa Meyer. You make what you want to make of Meyers meteoritic rise at Google
Post reply on HN