A global Google staff walkout over harassment and inequality has kicked off in London and Dublin

Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images

Google employees walked out of offices in London and Dublin on Thursday morning in a protest over harassment and inequality. 

It’s expected that thousands of Google staff will participate in a walkout of its 70 offices worldwide over the company’s handling of sexism complaints, abuse of power, pay inequality, and racism in the workplace. 

The protest comes just days after a New York Times report alleged that Andy Rubin, the creator of Android, was given a $90 million payout from Google “while keeping silent” about a string of sexual misconduct claims. Per the NYT story, Rubin had multiple relationships with Google employees and “coerced” oral sex from an employee in 2013 — a claim that the company investigated and found credible. In a statement, Rubin denied the allegations, claiming the NYT story contained “numerous inaccuracies” and he states he “never coerced a woman to have sex in a hotel room.” 

Protestors are calling on Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc to share pay equity data internally and to make its process for dealing with harassment claims fairer. 

Protestors are making formal demands to the tech giant’s management, including a public sexual harassment transparency report, a clear process for safely and anonymously reporting misconduct and harassment, the appointment of an employee representative to the board of directors, and an express commitment to ending pay inequality. 

According to a BBC report, staff participating in the walkout will be leaving a note on their desks to inform colleagues that they are protesting. “I’m not at my desk because I’m walking out with other Googlers and contractors to protest sexual harassment, misconduct, lack of transparency, and a workplace culture that’s not working for everyone,” reads the note. 

Staff in Google’s Dublin office began the walkout at around 11 a.m. GMT.  

Meanwhile, crowds gathered outside Google’s office in Granary Square, London. 

“I’m here protesting against harassment in the workplace to make sure that we don’t protect or support those perpetrators of harassment,” one Google employee told Sky News. 

Protests also happened inside the Google offices. A Google employee tweeted a photo from inside one of Google’s four locations within London.