Ethical Analysis of Google's Gender Discrimination in the Workplace

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of the ethical issues at Google, specifically focusing on the claims of gender discrimination highlighted in a software engineer's memo. The study identifies key stakeholders, including management, employees, and media, and analyzes their interests in the context of the ethical dilemma. It delves into the specific ethical breaches, such as under-representation of women in tech and leadership roles, pay gaps, and instances of sexual harassment. The essay examines relevant environmental factors influencing the ethical issue, such as biased workplace cultures and ineffective diversity policies. Moreover, it applies ethical theories, such as utilitarianism, to evaluate Google's practices. Finally, the paper suggests recommendations for Google to address and overcome these ethical challenges, aiming for a more equitable and ethical workplace.

Running head: BUSINESS ETHICS
Business Ethics
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1BUSINESS ETHICS
Introduction
Business ethics are the set of ethical principles and standard norms, which guide an
organization towards right direction (Chell et al. 2016). The set of ethical principles create a
sense of right or wrong among the organizational stakeholders, which guides them to perform as
per the organizational code of conduct. This study will analyze the business ethics of Google as
per the 10-pages memo written by one of the software engineer of the organization. The memo is
mainly focused on gender discrimination at the workplace of Google.
The study will identify the stakeholders in the memo and reveal their interest in the case
study. The study will clearly indentify the ethical issue of Google as per the memo written by the
software engineer. Apart from that, the study will also discuss about the major environmental
factors, which impacts or are impacted by the ethical issue of Google. Furthermore, the study
will link various relevant theories, concepts and practices on ethics and corporate social
responsibility with the ethical issue of Google. Furthermore, the study will also suggest some
suitable recommendations to Google for overcoming the ethical issues.
Discussion
Stakeholders in an ethical dilemma are defined as the persons, who are affected by the
unethical decision (Michaelson et al. 2014). In case of Google, the memo written by an unnamed
engineer regarding the gender differences at the workplace has sparked a controversy within and
outside of the organization. As per the memo, Google has been claimed with under-
representation of the women in the tech and leadership role. In this case study, the prime
stakeholders identified as the management, employees, media and employees.

2BUSINESS ETHICS
According to Su (2014), the interest of management in such unethical decision is to
keep the women away from the leadership role because of their biological difference from the
male employees. The management of Google is also in the midst of a Department of Labor
investigation, which is checking that whether or not the organization is paying less to the women
employees than the male employees are. Moreover, Giacalone and Promislo (2013) stated that
the management intension over here is to minimize the overall cost of the organization by paying
less to the women employees. Furthermore, the intension of management behind such
discrimination is to utilizing the preferences of male employees in the coding areas and
preferences of women employees in social and artistic areas. In the case study, the interest of the
management is also heighted as protecting the company reputation in the market by firing the
engineer, who has written the memo.
Women employees are also important stakeholders in this ethical dilemma of Google. As
per Fernando and Moore (2015), the usual interest of women employees in this organization is
to get fair and equal treatment in every aspect of their job role. They actually expect an
environment, which is free from any political bias and discriminatory views regarding gender
gaps. However, in case of the ethical dilemma of Google, the women employees are being
undervalued in the technological and leadership role. Furthermore, the memo of the engineer has
also highlighted the sexual harassment of the women employees at the workplace. Therefore, the
interest of the women employees is actually being harmed by this unethical gender
discrimination of Google. On the other hand, Floyd et al. (2013) opined that despite of the
political bias in Google; some employees have supported the memo of written by the engineer. In
this context, the interest of the employees has been found to protect the interest of the women
employees to get equal value and treatment at their workplace.

3BUSINESS ETHICS
Media is also an important stakeholder in the case study regarding the ethical dilemma of
Google. The interest of Media in this case study is to highlight the unethical employment
practice of Google to the public. Beets, Lewis and Brower (2016) opined that the interest of
media in Google’s gender discrimination case is to make the people aware of its unethical
employment practices. On the other hand, Kaptein (2017) stated the interest of the engineer,
who has written the memo, is to express the concern for the women employees. Moreover, the
interest of the engineer is to explore and leak out the unethical gender discrimination of Google
so that the women employees can get their right value.
The 10-page memo written by the software engineer of Google has highlighted the
ethical issues of the organization in terms of gender gaps at the workplace. According to BBC
News (2017), Google has been alleged in the memo that it discriminates among the gender of the
employees. Moreover, the organization underestimates the women employees in technological
and leadership roles. Moreover, the organization discriminates among the males and female
employees based on their preferences and abilities because of their biological causes. In this way,
the organization is actually violating the anti-discrimination laws, which is causing ethical
breach. On the other hand, Booth and Hern (2017) opined that Google also under the
investigation of Department of Labor investigation, which is investigating over gender pay
gaps the organization. Moreover, it has been claimed in the memo that the Google actually
discriminates among the male and female employees by paying male employees quite more that
the female employees. It is obviously sign of unethical employment practice in the organization.
As per the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, both male and female employees of an
organization should be treated equally in regards to their payment, rewards, leadership position
and others. However, Eandt.theiet.org (2017) opined that male employees have blocked 69% of

4BUSINESS ETHICS
the workforces and 80% of the technological and leadership roles of Google. It is clearly
indicating that there is an obvious under-representation of female employees in the tech and
leadership role of Google. Furthermore, the organization has also been alleged with underpaying
the female employees. Therefore, it can be said that Google is obviously practicing unethical
employment practices at the workplace. On the other hand, Phys.org (2017) opined that the
memo of the software engineer has also sparked the inflamed tension over the sexual
harassment of the female employees at the workplace of Google. Moreover, many of the female
employees have also supported the memo, which has revealed their experience of sexual
harassment at their workplace. Therefore, such practice at the workplace is actually against the
organizational code of conduct. Therefore, this practice has created ethical breaches in the
organization.
Flexible and effective organizational culture ensures free and open workplace condition,
which is free from any political bias. Moreover, the employees should have the right to raise
their voice against the issues faced by them at their workplace. However, in case of the Google,
the employees are not provided with adequate right towards raising their voice against the issues.
Stevens (2017) pointed out that the memo of software engineer has demonstrated a politically
biased and left-leaning workplace culture. In such workplace culture of Google, the employees
are always frightened about losing their jobs after raising any concern against the management.
In this way, Google is unethically binding the employees from their raising their concerns.
Moreover, there is lack of transparency among the management, while they deal with the
employees.
No organization has the right to fire an employee without having ant proper reason.
Raising any genuine concern against company’s unethical employment cannot be any proper

5BUSINESS ETHICS
reason for firing an employee. However, in case of Google case study, the organization has fired
the software engineer, who has raised the unethical gender differences at the workplace. As an
employee, the engineer had the right to raise the genuine concern of the employees faced by
them at their workplace. However, the organization has unethically claimed against the engineer
by misinterpreting his memo. Furthermore, the organization has even fired some other
employees, who have supported the memo of the engineer. Such employment practice is
obviously an ethical breach on ground of code of conduct.
The environmental factors related to an ethical issue in an organizational workplace are
like organizational policies, principles, code of conduct, managerial behavior, employee behavior
and others, which either impacts or are impacted by the ethical dilemma. In case of Google, the
politically biased workplace environment makes the employee frightened about raising any of
their concern to the management. Such biased workplace culture provided the scope to the
management towards practicing unethical gender discrimination at the workplace. On the other
hand, Wang and Calvano (2015) opined that the diversity policy of Google is actually
ineffective, which does not ensure equal employment opportunity to both male and female
employees. Moreover, ineffective diversity policy actually underestimates the female employees
in the role of tech and leadership role. Furthermore, Wu et al. (2015) opined that the unethical
behavior of the senior employees has also influenced the ethical issue of the Google. Moreover,
the female employees have alleged that they are often sexually harassed by their seniors at their
workplace. Apart from that, the workplace culture of the Google has also contributed in the
ethical issue occurred at the workplace. Moreover, lack of transparency at the workplace always
keeps the women employees away from important and significant roles of the organization.
Therefore, such factors has wide impact on the ethical issue occurred at Google workplace.

6BUSINESS ETHICS
Schwartz (2013) pointed out that that the work environment for the female employees is
highly impacted by the ethical issues at Google. In such work environment, the female
employees are being underestimated and undervalued, as they are not getting tech or leadership
role at the workplace. On the other hand, Shin et al. (2015) opined that ethical issue in terms of
gender gap has also influenced the code of conduct of the Google. Moreover, the ethical issue
has affected the organizational code of conduct, where the seniors at their workplace are sexually
harassing the female employees. Furthermore, the ethical issue of Google has also affected its
work environment, where the work environment has become politically biased. In such work
environment, the employees are not much allowed to raise their voice against any unethical
employment practice at the workplace. Furthermore, the ethical issue has also fostered
conflicting relation among the male and female employees in terms of getting the tech and
leadership roles.
Utilitarianism ethical theory (Teleological theory) defines that the locus of right or
wrong is completely dependent upon the consequences of a particular action. According to
Kahane et al. (2015), Utilitarianism ethical theory suggests that the best and ethical action
maximizes the utility. Utility is defined as the difference between the total amounts of pleasures
minus the total amount of sufferings faced by the people through an action. Moreover, an ethical
action spreads maximum amount of pleasure by minimizing the level of pain among the people.
However, in case of Google, the organization has been alleged with having discrimination
among the male and female employees. Moreover, Phys.org (2017) stated that Google is
undervaluing the female employees in tech and leadership role. The organization is also
underpaying the female employees in comparison with their male counterparts. On the other
hand, the female employees are often being sexually harassed at their workplace by their seniors.

7BUSINESS ETHICS
In this way, the employment practice of Google is actually increasing the suffering of the female
employees rather than increasing their pleasures. Therefore, the employment practice of Google
is said to be unethical as per Utilitarianism ethical theory.
Sigurjonsson et al. (2015) pointed out that Utilitarianism ethical theory indicates an
ethical action based on its ability towards spreading happiness among the people. Moreover,
Utilitarianism ethical theory counts everyone’s happiness equally. It does not discriminate
among the people and foster equal happiness among the people. However, Michaelson et al.
(2014) opined the workplace of Google seems to have high level of gender discrimination among
the male and female employees. Moreover, the organization gives more priority to the male
employees over the female employees in getting the tech and leadership roles. Furthermore, the
gender pay discrimination has also led to unequal distribution of happiness among the male and
female employees. Therefore, such employment practice of Google is definitely an unethical
practice.
Virtue theory of ethics always emphasizes on the virtues of mind and character before
assessing the ethical perspective of an action. According to Donaldson (2015), Virtual theory
emphasizes on the individual’s character as the key element of ethical thinking rather than the
consequence of an action. As per this theory, the honest mind of a decision maker always leads
to ethical action despite of its consequences. Moreover, the generous and honest tendency of
decision maker leads to ethical action. In case of Google, there is a dishonest mind of the
managers, which has created discrimination among the male and female employees. The
managers have also created a gender pay gap by pay less to the female employees as compared
to their male counterparts. Furthermore, De Cremer and Vandekerckhove (2017) opined that the

8BUSINESS ETHICS
managers Google have brought such gender pay gaps with a wrong intension to reduce overall
business cost.
Zheng, Luo and Wang (2014) pointed out that the moral values of a decision maker
always foster happiness among the people through their moral decision-making. Moreover, such
theory suggests that instead of sticking to rules, the decision maker should develop good
character traits like generosity and kindness. However, in case of Google, the managers of the
organization do not adhere much to the moral values before making decisions about the
promotion of female employees. Moreover, Busse (2014) opined that with dishonest mind, the
managers of Google give priority to the male employees over the female employee in regards to
getting tech and leadership roles. Apart from that, the managers never show generosity and
kindness for the employees and even underpay them with a dishonest mind of saving
organizational cost. Moreover, such immoral and dishonest decision of the managers actually
leads to unhappiness of the female employees. In this way, such employment practice of Google
actually breaches the ethical principle of Virtue theory of Ethics.
Kantian ethical theory (deontological theory) is based on the view that intrinsically
good thing is actually good will. As per this theory, an action can be good only if its maxim is
the duty to the moral law. Moreover, the moral law is the categorical imperatives, which can be
applied to all kind of people regardless of their interest and desires. Moreover, the decision
makers cannot make any decision based on fulfillment of their own interest. They have to make
decision based on the moral laws, which is based on humanity and well-being of others.
However, Kumar (2017) opined that the managers of Google have not adhered to the moral
maxim or principle in taking decisions about the promotion of the female employees. Moreover,
having the same talent and skills like the male counterparts, the female employees are still not

9BUSINESS ETHICS
getting tech and leadership roles. It is actually undervaluing the female employees at their
workplace. In this way, the managers of Google are actually practicing against the moral duty of
the ethical theory.
On the other hand, Bruin (2016) opined that Kant theory of ethics claims against the
action, which is performed with an intension of self-fulfillment. The ethical action should be
some moral motivation behind it, which would ensure happiness and wellbeing of others.
However, in case of Google, the managers of Google are underpaying the female employees as
compared to their male counterparts. In this way, the managers are trying to save the overall
organizational cost. Moreover, the intension of the managers is practicing such employment
practice with an intension of self-fulfillment through saving overall organizational cost. In this
way, they are actually avoiding their moral duty, which is being the reason of unhappiness for
the female employees. Therefore, it can be said that Google is breaching the ethical principle of
Kant theory.
While considering Carroll’s CSR model, it has four elements corporate social
responsibilities, which characterizes the nature of business and established its image in the
society. As per this CSR model, an organization has to incorporate four corporate and social
responsibilities like economic responsibility, legal responsibility, ethical responsibility and
philanthropic responsibility. According to Provis (2017), in economic responsibility, an
organization must be financially sound enough and profitable. Such financially sound
organizations can ensure that they can provide adequate return o investment to the shareholders.
Therefore, fulfillment of such responsibility actually establishes trust with the shareholders.
Likewise, Google is financially sound enough and provide adequate return on investment to the
shareholders. On the other hand, Vogel (2014) opined that an organization adheres to minimum

10BUSINESS ETHICS
rules of the laws and regulations. Moreover, organizations are expected to comply with related
laws and regulations. However, in case of Google, the organization has not adhered to Equal
Employment Laws. The organization undervalues the female employees in the tech and
leadership roles. Furthermore, the organization has also breaches the laws by underpaying the
female employees as compared to those of their male counterparts.
According to Demirtas and Akdogan (2015), ethical responsibilities ensure that
organizations conduct their affair in fair and objective fashion. Moreover, an organization should
adhere to standard rules, practices and norms for ensuring fair treatment of the stakeholders.
However, as per the memo written by the software engineer of Google, the organization had
failed to act as a good corporate citizen. Moreover, the organization has discriminated among the
male and female employees by underestimating the female employees in the tech and leadership
roles. Furthermore, the organization is also doing unfair to the female employees by underpaying
the female employees. Apart from that, the organization is also breaching the ethical ground by
undervaluing the organizational code of conduct, where their seniors are often sexually harassing
the female employees.
Various philosophers can support the arguments over the business ethics. According
to Wittmer and O’Brien (2014), business ethics is applied to all aspects of business conducts and
even it is related to individual conduct of the organizational members in the workplace.
Moreover, business ethics always care for the wellbeing of organizational stakeholders.
However, the memo of written by the software engineer of Google has revealed unfair treatment
of the organization with the female employees. The organization has discriminated among the
male and female employees by undervaluing the female employees in the tech and leadership
role. Therefore, it is evident that Google has breached the business ethics discriminating among

11BUSINESS ETHICS
employees. On the other hand, Biedenweg, Monroe and Oxarart (2013) opined that business
ethics guide an organization towards right direction for conducting the business. It facilitates an
organization to differentiate between right and wrong conducts. However, Diallo and Lambey-
Checchin (2017) opined that Google has failed to differentiate between the right and wrong
conduct. Moreover, the senior managers of Google have breached the business ethics by
mistreating with the female employees in the workplace.
Viviers, Krüger and Venter (2014) pointed out that business ethics set the core values and
standards of an organization, which helps it to become a good corporate citizen. Such ethics are
drawn up in consultation with government, local communities, employees and other
stakeholders. However, in case of Google, it can be found that the organization is not conducting
its employment practice as per the core value and standards of business ethics. Moreover, the
organization is breaching the ethical principles by discriminating among the employees as per
their gender.
Conclusion
While concluding the study, it can be said that the memo written by the software engineer
of Google has sparked controversy internally as well as among media. In this memo, the key
stakeholders are like management, employees, software engineer himself and media. Google is
facing a major controversial ethical issue of gender discrimination. The memo has revealed that
Google undervalues the female employees in the tech and leadership roles. Furthermore, the
organization has also been alleged with the allegation that it provides less payment to female
employees as compared to those of their male counterparts. Furthermore, some of female
employees have claimed that their seniors at their workplace have sexually harassed them. While