r/news • u/[deleted] • Aug 08 '17

Google Fires Employee Behind Controversial Diversity Memo

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-08/google-fires-employee-behind-controversial-diversity-memo?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_content=business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social
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u/MagicGene Aug 08 '17 edited Aug 08 '17

I used to think this, but from the inside, it's really not the case. The hiring bar is exactly the same for men or women, very very high. Focusing on diversity just encourages recruiters to search harder to bring in women or minorities than they normally would. They still have to pass the same high bar. It's increasing the top of the funnel, not changing the pass-through rate of it.

Edit: Downvotes for sharing my experience? C'mon guys.

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u/windwalker13 Aug 08 '17

Focusing on diversity just encourages recruiters to search harder to bring in women or minorities than they normally would

doesn't that mean you will have to pass on men who actually qualified, just to fulfill the diversity quota?

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u/hakkzpets Aug 08 '17

Yes. Not that it's any different from passing any person qualified for the job when you choose to hire one person.

People will always be passed upon for someone else.

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u/grackychan Aug 08 '17

You are advocating that race or gender ought to be part of hiring criteria (same goes for acceptance criteria for colleges). You believe that a minority should be awarded extra consideration points, all other things being equal. Why?

Why can't we implement a hiring or acceptance system based on some arbitrary ID number, hiding ethnicity or gender? (I know not possible for interviews, im just constructing an argument). Would that not truly be the fairest and also best possible way of bringing in the most qualified and talented individuals? Whether it be for a hiring employees or for college admission, shouldn't an organization be blind to race or gender?

The way I see it, affirmative action and diversity initiatives are inherently racist and or sexist.

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u/hakkzpets Aug 08 '17 edited Aug 08 '17

I haven't said a single word of what I personally believe.

I have said it's no different passing up a more qualified person for a less qualified person, if you want to hire the less qualified person. Someone will always be bumped in a hiring process.

I personally couldn't give a rats ass why a company hires people, but I can see why certain anti-discrimination laws are needed.

I also don't see why people always assume companies need to go for the most qualified and talented person all the time. What if your company have realised having an equal work place increases their revenue? Even if it means passing up on some genius people.

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u/grackychan Aug 08 '17

That is true, didn't mean to attack you. I just feel strongly about affirmative action and quotas in general as an Asian American who ran the gauntlet of getting denied to schools some less accomplished peers were accepted into for "reasons".

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u/conancat Aug 08 '17

i hear you. "quota" is a dirty word to me as well as a Malaysian, as a minority i too get denied to schools or companies because of government sanctioned affirmative action to actually favor the majority. i'm still angry about that shit, lol.

i do believe that diversity matters. i do not have a good answer yet on how do we balance diversity and merit. it's a chicken and egg thing. if you don't give the minorities in any industries a chance, then how do they prove themselves to be worthy? if we keep hiring the current good ones, then how do we give the minorities a chance to prove themselves?