James Damore's labor complaint against Google was completely shut down
Source: The Verge
James Damores labor complaint against Google was completely shut down
By Adi Robertson Feb 16, 2018, 5:39pm EST
Google didnt violate labor laws by firing engineer James Damore for a memo criticizing the companys diversity program, according to a recently disclosed letter from the US National Labor Relations Board. The lightly redacted statement is written by Jayme Sophir, associate general counsel of the NLRBs division of advice; it dates to January, but was released yesterday, according to Law.com. Sophir concludes that while some parts of Damores memo were legally protected by workplace regulations, the statements regarding biological differences between the sexes were so harmful, discriminatory, and disruptive as to be unprotected.
Damore filed an NLRB complaint in August of 2017, after being fired for internally circulating a memo opposing Googles diversity efforts. Sophir recommends dismissing the case; Bloomberg reports that Damore withdrew it in January, and that his lawyer says hes focusing on a separate lawsuit alleging discrimination against conservative white men at Google. NLRB records state that its case was closed on January 19th.
In her analysis, Sophir writes that employers should be given particular deference in trying to enforce anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, since these are tied to legal requirements. And employers have a strong interest in promoting diversity and cooperation across different groups of people. Because of this, employers must be permitted to nip in the bud the kinds of employee conduct that could lead to a hostile workplace, she writes. Where an employees conduct significantly disrupts work processes, creates a hostile work environment, or constitutes racial or sexual discrimination or harassment, the Board has found it unprotected even if it involves concerted activities regarding working conditions.
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Read more: https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/16/17021714/james-damore-google-nlrb-complaint-diversity-discrimination