More than a year after Google was the subject of legal action over its handling of sexual allegations involving senior executives, the company earlier this month settled the lawsuit with promises of swift reforms.
This includes not only a $310 million commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion initiatives, but also requires the company to enact extensive reforms to its internal policies regarding sexual misconduct, discrimination, and retaliation incidents. Google will therefore proceed with strict reforms to its internal sexual harassment policy.
Specifically, the 177-page settlement filing forces Google and parent company Alphabet to make more than 80 policy changes. The company had decided in 2018 to end forced arbitration for full-time Google employees, but has now expanded the same to also include all of its employees, including contractors, as well as those working in Alphabet's "Other Bets" divisions.
The extensive settlement aims to serve as an example for Silicon Valley, with Julie Goldsmith Resir, a lawyer representing the Google shareholders who initiated the lawsuit, telling CNBC:
«The excuse has always been that these were just a few bad apples. This is the first time they've said in detail that 'it's bigger than this and we won't allow it.'"
Alphabet also agreed to review its use of NDAs, which could be used by executives and those in positions of power to silence complaints from other employees about discrimination and harassment. Employees will now be able to discuss facts related to such incidents.
Google executives, including CEO Sundar Pichai, head of global affairs Kent Walker, and SVP of engineering Jen Fitzpatrick, will additionally not only be part of the newly created Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Council, but will also be responsible for implementing the Council's initiatives.
A new “rapid response team” will be responsible for handling complaints against senior executives, while also creating new tools to monitor employees’ interactions with the HR.
The company has also committed to a policy of not providing severance packages to employees who are being investigated for harassment or discrimination, which was the cause of the infamous incident following Andy Rubin, despite allegations of sexual misconduct, according to androidcentral.
