When Can Employees Speak? The Much Googled Question

  • Author(s):  Rajeshwari Chennangodu, Mr. Ishan Vats

The protests on 16th April 2024 staged by Google employees against their own organization was widely reported by the media. A group of individuals known as ‘No Tech against Apartheid'' helped in organizing and facilitating the sit-in at three different locations including the two Google offices located in Sunnyvale and New York City. The motive behind it was to voice against Project Nimbus, a deal among Google, Amazon and Israeli Government and demand its cancellation. The concern was that the material support provided by Google was allegedly aiding in the alleged genocide carried out by the Israeli government and military. The controversy sparked further when the investigation and consequent actions were taken by Google against the employees connected with the protest, in the form of the immediate termination of almost 50 employees. An internal memo also warned of similar action if employees followed the same path in the near future. The CEO Mr. Sundar Pichai too expressed concern over politics becoming a part of organizational conversation and that as a business their focus was different. The employees and the group “No Tech for Apartheid'' accused Google of foul play and unfair labor practices. To that end, the grieved employees took the legal course of action and appealed against the step taken by Google at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on 29th April 2024. The case seeks to ask some pertinent questions related to employee dissent.

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  • Document Length: 7
  • Text Length: 4
  • Publication Date: 29-03-2025
  • Area: Organization Behaviour Management
  • Product #: IIMKTC25023

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