Google seems like a great place to work and might seem like a dream job for many however Google is struggling to achieve gender balance in its workforce and arguably has a “dirty little secret” that they seem to be unwelcoming of women.Google officials say they are aware of the lack of diversity, but that their diversity initiatives have failed. However, others report that sexist comments go unchecked and there is a frat-house atmosphere. In fact, an interviewer at an all-company presentation insultingly teased a man and woman who shared an office, asking them, “Which one of you does the dishes?

Critics are skeptical that Google and other large technology firms will ever count women in their ranks in numbers that reflect the population, though research continues to indicate that men and women are highly similar employees. Once Google has achieved greater diversity than it currently has, perhaps its executives can begin to work on the pay differentials: A recent Harvard study indicated that women computer scientists receive 89 percent of the pay men earn for the same jobs.

Questions

1. Does this article change your perception of Google as an employer? How?

2. Why do you think men at Google continue to hire mainly men?

3. Would you do anything to address diversity issues at Google if you worked there? What might you try.