Amid a groundswell of discontent, Google employees are gearing up for protests against the company's recent layoffs, a move that has reportedly left around 15,000 individuals out of work. The Alphabet Workers Union, the organizing force behind the demonstrations, has planned protests at five Google campuses across the United States on January 18, spanning from Mountain View, California, to New York. The union's primary goal is to challenge what they consider "bogus talking points" used by Google to justify its recent decisions, as reported by Business Insider.
The protests come in the wake of a recent round of layoffs that reportedly affected over 1,000 employees across various divisions within the tech giant. The Alphabet Workers Union, representing the disgruntled workforce, revealed that nearly 15,000 colleagues have been impacted by layoffs over the past year. This revelation has fueled the discontent leading to the planned protests.
Expressing the dissatisfaction of the workforce, Stephen McMurtry, a senior software engineer and the communications chair of the Alphabet Workers Union, raised 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.
As the planned protests approach, criticism has extended beyond the protest grounds. Kenneth Smith, an engineering manager at Google, criticized the impersonal nature of the layoff notifications, calling for a more humane approach with face-to-face meetings in such situations. Software engineer and tech commentator Gergely Orosz joined the chorus of criticism, pointing out a concerning trend within the company where employees with years of service receive termination notices via email, sparking discussions about loyalty and commitment in corporate decisions.