Google fires employee who wrote memo about women in technology jobs – The Boston Globe

Googles headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.

SAN FRANCISCO Alphabet Inc.s Google has fired an employee who wrote an internal memo blasting the Web companys diversity policies, creating a firestorm across Silicon Valley.

James Damore, the Google engineer who wrote the note, confirmed his dismissal in an e-mail, saying that he had been fired for perpetuating gender stereotypes. A Google representative didnt immediately return a request for comment.

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Googles chief executive Sundar Pichai sent a note to employees on Monday that said portions of the employees memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace. But he didnt say if the company was taking action against the employee.

Damores 10-page memorandum accused Google of silencing conservative political opinions and argued that biological differences play a role in the shortage of women in tech and leadership positions. It circulated widely inside the company and became public over the weekend, causing a furor that amplified the pressure on Google executives to take a more definitive stand.

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After the controversy swelled, Danielle Brown, Googles new vice president for diversity, integrity and governance, sent a statement to staff condemning Damores views and reaffirmed the companys stance on diversity. In internal discussion boards, multiple employees said they supported firing the author, and some said they would not choose to work with him, according to postings viewed by Bloomberg News.

The memo and surrounding debate comes as Google fends off a lawsuit from the US Department of Labor alleging the company systemically discriminates against women. Google has denied the charges, arguing that it doesnt have a gender gap in pay, but has declined to share full salary information with the government. According to the companys most recent demographic report, 69 percent of its workforce and 80 percent of its technical staff are male.

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Google fires employee who wrote memo about women in technology jobs - The Boston Globe