Swiss Google employees defy managers, stage labour event

A file photo of Google employees holding up signs during a walkout rally at Harry Bridges Plaza in San Francisco to protest against what they said is the tech company's mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations against executives. The conflict at Google in Zurich is the latest example of tensions between rank-and-file employees and senior managers at the company, which has been rocked in the last year by a series of internal protests over ethical concerns and leadership’s handling of sexual harassment complaints. — AP

A few dozen Google employees in Switzerland held an event on Monday on labour law and worker rights that the tech company’s executives had repeatedly tried to shut down, according to four Google employees familiar with the matter.

Though relatively small, the incident was the culmination of a months-long dispute between Google staff members and senior managers who had taken steps to control such action, according to the employees and internal messages seen by Bloomberg News. The employees said the purpose of the event was to better understand their rights amid rising tensions between staffers and managers at Google.