Following an anti-war demonstration, Google reportedly terminated its software engineer despite his claim that he was not actively participating in the protest. 

(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Alleging Wrongful Termination

A software engineer at Google claims he was wrongfully terminated for attending an anti-war demonstration despite insisting he wasn't actively participating.

Alongside this allegation, over 50 other employees have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), accusing Google of unlawful retaliation and seeking reinstatement. 

According to the ex-employee, who preferred to remain unnamed, The Verge reported that he visited the lounge on the 10th floor of Google's New York City office during lunchtime to observe the protest against an Israeli defense contract.

Upon arriving, the former employee observed around 20 people gathered on the floor, all donning matching T-shirts. However, they opted not to engage with them and instead interacted with others, distributing flyers and performing various tasks.

After briefly returning to his desk, the employee revisited the protest site at around 5 PM. He briefly conversed with the demonstrators for approximately four minutes, expressing surprise at their continued presence and inquiring about their well-being. 

Subsequently, he concluded his workday from a nearby couch. The employee asserts that he resumed work at Google the following day without encountering any issues. However, during dinner that evening, he received an email from Google notifying him of his termination.

The former worker, who had been with Google for nearly three years and held a leadership role in the Alphabet Workers Union, suggested that Google's actions were part of a larger pattern of stifling employee dissent.

Also read: Google Fires Employee for Protesting Military Contract During Company Presentation

Following protests against Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud computing deal with the Israeli government, Google placed nine employees on administrative leave for occupying its New York City and Sunnyvale, California offices, resulting in their subsequent arrest. 

Subsequently, the company terminated 28 employees linked to the demonstrations. In an internal communication, Chris Rackow, Google's head of global security, indicated that the company would consider additional measures if necessary.

Rackow emphasized in his statement that most employees adhere to company policies. However, he warned that any behavior violating these policies would not be tolerated.

Google remains committed to enforcing its policies and will take appropriate action against those engaged in disruptive conduct, including termination.

Within a week, Google terminated over 20 additional employees, some claiming they had not participated in the protests at all. 

Google's Response to Project Nimbus Protests

Google representative Bailey Tomson informed us that the company investigated the physical disruption inside their buildings on April 16, examining additional information provided by colleagues who experienced the disruption firsthand to identify the workers involved.

However, the dismissed software engineer claims that HR never contacted him to inquire about his participation in the protests.

He stated that the sudden termination took him aback, as he had received no prior indication of such action being taken against him.

As the worker observed the protest, a security guard approached him and fellow individuals in the lounge, requesting to inspect their Google badges to verify that there were no unauthorized participants. 

Reflecting on the encounter, the worker expressed surprise, stating that refusing the request never crossed his mind, considering the security guard's authority within the workplace and his own innocence.

Related Article: Google Fires 20 More Workers Following Protests Against the Tech Giant's Israel Deal