> “When Google covers up harassment and passes the trash, it contributes to an environment where people don’t feel safe reporting misconduct,” said Liz Fong-Jones, a Google engineer for more than a decade and an activist on workplace issues. “They suspect that nothing will happen or, worse, that the men will be paid and the women will be pushed aside.”
> Isn't it standard for companies to never/rarely disclose why an employee is being fired (or even if it is being fired)?
IIRC, they do that because disclosing the reason could open the company up to legal liability if the reason isn't accurate or well documented enough to hold up in court in defamation case.
Even is the accusation isn't credible enough to hold up in court, it might make sense for a company to dismiss an employee (although not always, it depends on the accusations), particularly in at-will employment. Employment is not a court case.
What if the accusation was false and it were made publicly? Or at the very least, if whisperings went around and all my (or your) co-workers found out about the accusation?
"Guilt" in the court of public opinion is a real thing and this industry is smaller than most people realize. You may try to get another job only to find the same people from your previous job are at the new one, know people there, or that word has just gotten around about you whether online and searchable or through word of mouth. Or maybe someone calls a previous employer and they mention why you were let go?
All for something that was false?
Would it count as slander/libel in this case? You could make the argument that it led to lost earnings or whatever too.
