In the light of the Supreme Court’s decision of overturning Roe v Wade, a petition has been signed by more than 650 Google employees. The petitioners are concerned about the abortion-related health benefits to contractors and user privacy.
However, Fiona Cicconi ( Google’s Chief people officer) affirmed that health insurance would cover employees’ out-of-state medical procedures. Furthermore, she acknowledged that no justification is to be given if they want to apply for relocation.
Nevertheless, the temporary, vendor or contract workers(TVCs) of Google would not be able to reap the fruits of this tree. TVCs and temporary workers roughly account for half of Google’s workforce. But none of them is fortuitous enough to enjoy the benefits and pays that Google assures its employees. They have been experiencing a feeling of disrespect and negligence.
Workers demand equality and extension of health care facilities to TVCs along with complimentary Seven sick days because a significant period would be required for to-and-fro in order to exploit the health services.
On July 1, Google promised to delete the location data of the users via a published blog. The data contains the history of users who visited abortion clinics, domestic violence shelters, and addiction treatment facilities. Regardless, employees wanted to have a safer cover. They have put forward a stance as they need assurance that Google searches related to abortion are never saved, handed over to law enforcement, or treated as a crime.
This requirement has come under the spotlight after the big reveal that Facebook leaked a chat between a mother and daughter related to illegal abortion to law enforcement agents which led to a felony.
Though the petition has been filled by less than one per cent of Alphabet’s Global workforce. But the magnitude of the voice and the notion which they have put forward is echoing in all directions. At places like Meta, the employees were told to not hold discussions encircling the Roe v. Wade case as these discussions could ignite disruptions in the workplace. The ruling has ruffled up the feathers of many as a chorus of tech workers are openly discussing their dissatisfaction with how the companies have been mistreating them.
