Google has fired 48 staff including 13 senior managers, over alleged sexual harassment claims reported by New York Times in 2016. Google chief executive, Sundar Pichai in a letter to employees said the company was taking a “hard line” on inappropriate conduct.
According to BBC, the letter was in response to a New York Times report that accused Andy Rubin, creator of Android mobile software of receiving a $US90m exit package despite facing misconduct allegations.
Although, Rubin spokesperson who left the company in 2014, denied misconduct allegation as reported by the newspaper. Mr Rubin left the company in 2014. He was given what New York Times described as a “hero’s farewell”.
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Mr Pichai’s letter said the New York Times story was “difficult to read” and that Google was “dead serious” about providing a “safe and inclusive workplace”. “We want to assure you that we review every single complaint about sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct, we investigate and we take action,” he said.
New York Times reported that two unnamed Google executives said then-chief executive Larry Page asked Mr Rubin to resign after the company confirmed a complaint by a female employee about a sexual encounter in a hotel room in 2013.
The paper also reported that Google investigation found the woman’s complaint to be credible but the company has not confirmed this. Mr Rubin has denied engaging in any misconduct and left Google of his own accord.
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