This archive report was first published on 8 November 2019.
Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has confirmed that its board is investigating how executives handled accusations of misconduct, including sexual harassment.
The investigation was sparked by a coordinated worldwide walkout of Google employees in November 2019, which was in response to the company's handling of sexual harassment allegations.
According to Alphabet, the board formed a special litigation committee in early 2019 to consider claims made by shareholders in various lawsuits relating to past workplace conduct.
"In early 2019, Alphabet's board of directors formed a special litigation committee to consider claims made by shareholders in various lawsuits relating to past workplace conduct," an Alphabet spokesperson told AFP on November 8, 2019.
Google had previously outlined changes to its handling of sexual misconduct complaints in November 2019, in an effort to calm outrage and improve transparency.
"We recognize that we have not always gotten everything right in the past and we are sincerely sorry for that," Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a message to employees at the time.
Despite these assurances, shareholders filed lawsuits against Alphabet accusing it of covering up sexual misconduct.
