In a wave of discontent, Google employees reportedly planned protests against the company's recent layoffs, which impacted approximately 15,000 individuals. The Alphabet Workers Union organized demonstrations at five Google campuses across the United States on January 18, spanning from Mountain View, California, to New York.
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New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 22, 2024 14:30 IST
In a wave of discontent, Google employees reportedly planned protests against the company's recent layoffs, which impacted approximately 15,000 individuals. The Alphabet Workers Union organized demonstrations at five Google campuses across the United States on January 18, spanning from Mountain View, California, to New York. The protest aims to challenge what the union deems as "bogus talking points" used by Google to justify its decision-making processes, Business Insider reported.
The unrest follows a recent round of layoffs that reportedly saw over 1,000 employees being let go across various divisions within the tech giant. The Alphabet Workers Union, representing the disgruntled workforce, has disclosed a staggering figure of nearly 15,000 colleagues impacted by layoffs over the past year. This revelation has prompted the union to organize protests at five Google campuses across the United States on January 18.
Expressing the dissatisfaction of the workforce, Stephen McMurtry, a senior software engineer and the communications chair of the Alphabet Workers Union, voiced concerns about the aftermath of the layoffs. McMurtry highlighted the resulting chaos, increased workloads, and widespread anxiety among employees, who are now apprehensive about the possibility of their teams facing sudden dissolution.
Google responded to the mounting criticism, asserting that its actions were part of "responsibly investing in our company's biggest priorities and the significant opportunities ahead." The company acknowledged undergoing organizational changes, which involved "some role eliminations globally." Google also emphasized its commitment to aiding affected employees in securing new roles, both within and outside the company.
Amid the planned protests, Kenneth Smith, an engineering manager at Google, criticized the impersonal nature of the layoff notifications. Smith, who received an email on January 10 notifying him of his role's elimination, called for a more humane approach, advocating for face-to-face meetings in such situations.
The discontent extends beyond the protest grounds, with Gergely Orosz, a software engineer and tech commentator, joining the chorus of criticism against Google's layoff procedures. Orosz drew attention to a concerning trend within the company, where employees with years of service receive termination notices via email. This has sparked discussions about the perceived lack of loyalty and commitment in such corporate decisions.
Published By:
Ankita Garg
Published On:
Jan 22, 2024
English (US) ·