Google denies paying maternity leave for laid off employees

0
55

[ad_1]

After laying off 12,000 employees in January to cut costs in a challenging economic climate, Google is facing pushback from a group of over 100 former employees who are protesting the company’s decision to not pay them for all of their remaining time off. The group, named “Laid off on Leave,” claims they were approved to take time off for maternity and medical leave before Google announced the job cuts in January. However, Google now says that they will only receive payment through their designated end date, along with standard severance.

In 2022, Google extended all parental leave to 18 weeks for full-time staff and 24 weeks for birth parents. However, terminated employees still only receive 16 weeks of severance pay plus two weeks for every added year of employment. This decision has left many employees vulnerable, particularly those who were on leave at the time of their termination, as they often rely on their employers for medical care and benefits.

The group sent its first email to executives in January, sharing specific examples of Google employees impacted by the job cuts while on their previously approved leave. One employee claimed Google laid her off just a week after approving her leave, while another received notice while she was on maternity leave, just a week before giving birth.

Google’s response

In response to the criticism, Google stated that it is offering a severance package that compares favorably with those of other companies. Outgoing employees will be eligible for regular salary and stocks for their “60+ day” notice window, in addition to the 16 weeks of severance pay. Furthermore, the company is also offering virtual doctor’s appointments to affected employees.

This situation highlights a problem that many tech giants face as they struggle with a tough economy and cut costs. These companies previously promised extensive benefits to attract top talent but are now having to reconsider those perks.

[ad_2]

Source link