Google CEO hosts 'town hall' after controversial gender memo
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (Christien Kafton) - The Google campus on Thursday morning was buzzing with activity ahead of the “town hall” meeting to be hosted by Google’s CEO.
Sundar Pichai will be on hand at 4 p.m. discuss the memo that stirred you so much controversy regarding gender equality at the Mountain View tech company.
In the days since, Pichai cut his family vacation short to return to address the issue.
Pichai has released a memo of his own-- reading in part "to suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive, and not OK."
The author of that memo-- James Damore has been fired from Google for violating the company’s code of conduct.
Damore has already filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board-- and spoke on Bloomberg television defending himself-- saying he feels hurt and betrayed by Google-- that he was trying to improve Google's culture.
He said he had shared that memo internally a month ago-- and there was no pushback until it was widely released-- and went viral.
He says management didn't weigh in on it until after it was public knowledge.
He also said that the employees who had supported him have also been contacted by Google’s Human Resources - a claim Google has denied.
Damore has said he plans on pursuing further legal action.
Meanwhile, more than 60 women may sue Google, alleging gender discrimination, sexism and pay disparities. Some women claim they make roughly $40,000 less than their male counterparts.