Google reportedly paid Father of Android mobile software, Andy Rubin, $90 million and praised him whereas the internet giant remained quiet about the sexual misconduct charges against him. After his resignation, Google gave him a grand farewell in October 2014.
“I want to wish Andy all the best with what’s next. With Android he created something truly remarkable with billion-plus happy users,” said Larry Page, Google’s chief executive then, in a public statement.
However, Google did not make the fact public that an employee had accused Andy Rubin of sexual misconduct. According to two company executives, the woman, with whom Rubin was having an affair, out of marriage claimed that he coerced her into performing oral sex in a hotel room in 2013. The women’s claims were not false as the Google investigated and found the claims valid.
Also Read: Google sacks dozens over sexual harassment
“Instead of firing Rubin and paying him no penny, Google handed him a $90 million exit package, paid in installments of about $2 million a month for four years. The last payment is scheduled for next month,” said two people with knowledge of the terms.
The list continues, as Rubin was not alone whom Google provide protection. Three other executives over the past decade were protected by Google after they were accused of sexual misconduct. However, in two instances, it ousted senior executives but softened the blow by paying them millions of dollars as they departed, even though it had no legal obligation to do so. In a third, the executive remained in a highly compensated post at the company. Each time Google stayed silent about the accusations against the men.
Also Read: Google opens public voting for ‘Doodle 4 Google’ contest
“The New York Times story contains numerous inaccuracies about my employment at Google and wild exaggerations about my compensation. Specifically, I never coerced a woman to have sex in a hotel room. These false allegations are part of a smear campaign by my ex-wife to disparage me during a divorce and custody battle,” said Andy Rubin in a statement after the publication of an article in The New York Times.
Later Google’s chief executive, Sundar Pichai, and Naughton wrote an email to employees that the company had fired 48 people for sexual harassment over the last two years and that none of them received an exit package.
Also Read: Google Assistant to now answer Airtel-related queries
“We are committed to ensuring that Google is a workplace where you can feel safe to do your best work, and where there are serious consequences for anyone who behaves inappropriately,” wrote Pichai and Naughton.
