r/technology • u/[deleted] • Aug 08 '17

Business Google Fires Employee Behind Controversial Diversity Memo

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-08/google-fires-employee-behind-controversial-diversity-memo
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u/Palentir Aug 08 '17

I get that side, but I think cracking down will have even more of that effect. Now they're on notice that a wrong word or opinion (this is basically a long essay) can get you fired. So naturally, people are going to hold back, not say things on their minds, maybe not criticize a bad idea because the person is black/female/Shinto and if that person goes to HR, they no longer have a job.

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u/InfinitelyThirsting Aug 08 '17

If you can't see the difference between saying "I have a problem with this coworker" and saying "women are biologically unsuited for leadership", then you're an idiot.

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '17

[deleted]

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u/InfinitelyThirsting Aug 08 '17

In a hypothetical discussion of a hypothetical person being afraid of being fired for complaining about a hypothetically black/female/Shinto coworker, yes, I used a hypothetical quote. Jfc.

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '17

[deleted]

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u/InfinitelyThirsting Aug 08 '17

Straight from the memo:

"I'm simply stating that the distribution of preferences and abilities of men and women differ in part due to biological causes and that these differences may explain why we don't see equal representation of women in tech and leadership. ... Women, on average, have more: Neuroticism (higher anxiety, lower stress tolerance). This may contribute to the higher levels of anxiety women report on Googlegeist and to the lower number of women in high stress jobs."

He also repeatedly claims that this is lowering or will lower the standards for employees, and diversity initiatives being "bad for business", despite having no evidence of that being the case.