Several Alphabet workers on Friday sent an internal letter to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, alleging that the company "does not provide a safe environment for those who face harassment in the workplace" and demanding that the company strip confirmed harassers of their direct reports.
The letter, which was signed by some members of the Alphabet Workers Union, comes days after former Google employee Emi Nietfeld outlined allegations of sexual harassment in an op-ed in The New York Times, writing that she was forced to continue sitting next to her alleged harasser even after she filed a complaint.
"This is a long pattern where Alphabet protects the harasser instead of protecting the person harmed by the harassment," the letter reads. "The person who reports harassment is forced to bear the burden, usually leaving Alphabet while their harasser stays or is rewarded for their behavior."
As evidence of that pattern, the letter cites Android founder Andy Rubin's $90 million exit package following sexual misconduct allegations and search executive Amit Singhal's $35 million exit agreement following another sexual assault investigation. (Both men have denied the allegations).
In instances where claims of harassment have been verified, the workers are asking Pichai to prevent harassers from being able to lead or manage a team and to impose a mandatory team change. "Alphabet workers deserve the right to work in an environment free from their abusers," the workers write.
Climate TRACE's data show emissions at the facility-level.Image: Climate TRACE