Google has fired a male employee for writing a memo claiming that women are inherently less qualified to be engineers than men. Since that incident, women of color have begun speaking out about other incidents of alleged racial and sexual discrimination at the California-based company.
The Guardian interviewed several women of color who left Google because they felt discriminated against. Some of the experiences they recounted included enduring sexist and racist comments, being passed over for promotions and feeling like they weren’t wanted or appreciated. One woman said she was criticized for pushing for more diversity at the company. Other women mentioned that they felt that they had no future at Google because few women are promoted to executive positions.
According to data provided by Google, 69 percent of the company’s employees are male and 56 percent are white. The company’s director of global diversity and inclusion said that he was “disappointed” to hear about the alleged incidents of sexual and racial discrimination outlined in the article.
Employees have the right to work in an environment that is free from all forms of discrimination. If employees suffer workplace sexual harassment in the workplace, they may find relief by filing a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Examples may include a hostile working environment, unwanted sexual advances, offensive or lewd sexual comments, and sexually explicit materials in the workplace. Victims of workplace sexual harassment could learn more about their legal options by meeting with an employment law attorney.
Source: Mashable, “Women who left Google share their experiences of racism and sexism“, Emma Hinchliffe, Aug. 18, 2017
