According to emails and documents reviewed by the Post, Kent Walker, Googles top lawyer and LaJeunesses mentor, raised the concern that a formal commitment to human rights could increase Googles liability after LaJeunesse began to advocate for a formal human-rights program. LaJeunesse alleges that Walkers opposition was based on concerns that an official human rights program might jeopardize Googles business in oppressive foreign countries, where its operation is contingent on state cooperation.
LaJeunesse said his efforts quickly got bogged down by one series of excuses after the other, and was told in February that his role was being eliminated in a reorganization of our policy team, according to a Google statement.
LaJeunesse, who did not sign a non-disclosure agreement when he left in the company, also cited toxic examples of Googles corporate culture in a Medium post published Thursday.
The entire policy team was separated into various rooms and told to participate in a diversity exercise that placed me in a group labeled homos while participants shouted out stereotypes such as effeminate and promiscuous.
LaJeunesse said that there was no follow up when he brought concerns to HR, despite assurances the problems would be solved.