The memo published by one of the Googlers went viral when he posted a comment that women had biological issues that prevent them from being successful in tech than men. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that the employee has penned a controversial memo and had violated the Code of Conduct. The memo has gone viral, and millions of the viewers have read it too.
Pichai has indirectly confirmed through his words that the employee is likely to be fired, but the Google Spokesperson has not confirmed anything about the employee. This issue is the gender stereotype instance occurred in the workplace.
Once the employee is fired, and news is confirmed then the search engine giant will face the criticism from both the ends and the debate is widened about the gender inequality at the Silicon Valley and the workplace.
The memo published by the employee who was penned from many days without any action taken by Google went viral within the board’s discussion where some are trying to defend it and some are forcing the board to take some action on it. But, the executives of Google are struggling with how to deal with this memo and what type of action should be taken.
The memo to employees titled “Our Words Matter”, Google CEO Sundar Pichai stated that the employee whose identity is not verified has violated the Company’s Code of Conduct.
But, this memo has gone so much viral within the Google, that it has become a debatable topic among may workplace whether the women’s has some biological issues which make them less successful when compared with men.
The companies have the rules and managers which have rules above the rules. The freedom of speech is allowed when the issue comes to the society and government, but the case is not same when it comes to the companies. The employee is likely to be fired if he/she makes the racist or sexist remarks on other employees.
Pichai also stated that this memo had raised several other important issues for Google, and the Google should rephrase the Code of conduct and few more points on the view of the company, which also includes conservative points too.
But Pichai stated in “Our Words Matter” – “First, let me say that we strongly support the right of Googlers to express themselves, and much of what was in that memo is fair to debate, regardless of whether a vast majority of Googlers disagree with it. However, portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace.
Our job is to build great products for users that make a difference in their lives. To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK. It is contrary to our basic values and our Code of Conduct, which expects ‘each Googler to do their utmost to create a workplace culture that is free of harassment, intimidation, bias and unlawful discrimination.’”
This instance has become a debatable issue among the other companies and in Google, that gender discrimination is not acceptable, and more strict points should be added in the norms of the company to avoid such circumstances in future.