20,000 Google employees walked out — over a $90M exit package for a harassment accused

In October 2018, the New York Times reported that Google had given Android creator Andy Rubin a $90 million exit package in 2014, despite an internal investigation finding that he had engaged in misconduct. The report also revealed that Google had protected other executives accused of harassment.

On November 1, 2018, approximately 20,000 Google employees worldwide walked out of their offices in protest — one of the largest employee protests in tech history. The walkout was organized by employees through internal channels and social media, and the demands included ending forced arbitration for harassment claims, publishing a transparency report on harassment, and reforming the HR process.

Google responded by ending forced arbitration for harassment and assault claims, publishing a report on workplace misconduct, and committing to changes in its HR processes. The case illustrated how employees in a knowledge economy can exercise collective power, and how a company's response to harassment allegations can trigger a workforce revolt that is more damaging than the original misconduct.