An open letter has been written to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, by a group of Google staff. The letter was written following Alphabet’s decision to lay off 12,000 workers in its second round of job cuts.
The staff who signed the letter made several demands, including better treatment and the consideration of voluntary redundancies before compulsory ones. The employees also requested a freeze on new hires and the rehiring of laid-off employees for job vacancies.
The letter also called on Alphabet to avoid laying off workers from countries that have been experiencing conflicts, such as Ukraine. Additionally, the employees asked for extra support for those who risked losing their visa-linked residency along with their jobs. Over 1,400 workers signed the open letter, expressing their concerns and requesting that their voices be heard throughout the layoffs.
CONTENT OF THE LETTER
Sundar,
The impacts of Alphabet’s decision to reduce its workforce are global. Nowhere have workers’ voices adequately been considered, and we know that as workers we are stronger together than alone. We are thus coming together across the world to be heard.
Specifically we are asking for the following public commitments from you:
1) Freeze all new hires during the layoff process. First ask for voluntary redundancies and voluntary working time reduction before compulsory layoffs. Allow for employee ‘swaps’ to further avoid compulsory redundancies.
2) Grant priority rehire to any Alphabet employees that have been recently laid off. Prioritize internal transfer options, prioritized access to jobs without the need to re-interview and agree to a fair severance package.
3) Protect our co-workers from countries with active conflicts or humanitarian crises (such as Ukraine, Russia, etc). Do not terminate employment when it would adversely affect visas, which could require workers to return to unsafe or unstable countries. Provide extra support to these and workers at risk of residence permit loss: help with job searches—internal and external—and provide adequate gardening leave.
4) Respect scheduled leaves (Maternity, Baby Bonding, Carer’s and Bereavement) and do not give notice until the leave is finished. Workers given notice will be notified in-person and will be given the opportunity to say good-bye to their coworkers.
5) Ensure there will be no discriminatory effects based on sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, racial or ethnic identity, caste, veteran status, religion, and disability.
We call on you and Alphabet more broadly to make these critical public commitments. Our company has long touted its commitment to doing right by its users and workers, and these commitments will show Alphabet adhering to the final line of its Code of Conduct: Don’t Be Evil.
We know this is within your means and your ability to accomplish.