Overly-Restrictive Confidentiality Policies Cost Google $27 Million

For a total of $27 million—including $9 million in attorneys’ fees–Google has settled a class action filed on behalf of roughly 97,000 workers who allege they were illegally required to forfeit certain speech rights. The suit accused Google of adopting overly-restrictive confidentiality policies, ostensibly designed to prevent leaks of trade secrets, but that, in practice illegally prevented its employees from reporting wrongdoing and discussing wages and working conditions. The workers’ lawsuit originated in 2016 after one of them was fired for posting complaints about the company’s management on Facebook.

What would a respectful workplace do?

A respectful workplace welcomes questions and complaints from whistleblowers. After all, without the brave actions of workers who object to employer wrongdoing, the world would be a far worse place: more dangerous products on the market, more unfair treatment in the workplace, more pollution and environmental degradation.

A respectful workplace recognizes that employees have the right under federal law and the laws of many states, including California, New York, and New Jersey, to talk to each other—online or in person–about wages and other working conditions. It gives its employees opportunities to raise suggestions and concerns without fear of retaliation.

Illegal retaliation is the hottest employment issue of the decade. Fair Measures can help by training your executives and managers to avoid retaliation claims through our Managing Within the Law course and Harassment Prevention Training—available in the classroom or through webinar. To book training dates for your organization, call us today at 800-458-2778 or send an email.