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Law firm representing fired Google engineer seeks more clients facing political 'discrimination'

The Google logo atop an office building in Irvine, California, on August 7, 2017: REUTERS/Mike Blake
The Google logo atop an office building in Irvine, California, on August 7, 2017: REUTERS/Mike Blake

A law firm representing a Google engineer fired for faulting the company’s diversity policies is seeking other clients who have faced “discrimination” for their political views.

Harmeet Dhillon, a prominent figure in California Republican politics, has agreed to represent former Google engineer James Damore.

Mr Damore lost his job after circulating a manifesto arguing that the company engaged in “arbitrary social engineering” to promote employee diversity.

Since his firing, Mr Damore has argued that he was singled out for his political beliefs and argued that Google employees with conservative views are silenced, comparing the situation to being a closeted homosexual in the 1950s.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a note to employees that Mr Damore had breached the company's code of conduct and perpetuated “harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace”, though Mr Pichai added that people “must feel free to express dissent” and that Mr Damore “had a right to express their views on those topics”.

A post on the website of Ms Dhillon’s law firm, entitled “Have You Experienced Illegal Employment Practices At Google?”, suggests that Mr Damore’s case could be part of a broader legal action that enlists other frustrated Google employees.

“On behalf of current firm clients, Dhillon Law Group is investigating Google’s employment discrimination against employees on the basis of their political views and other protected characteristics, as well as retaliation against employees for complaining about these violations of labor laws,” the post reads.

It encourages responses from people who have been written up for “refusing to comply with the political orthodoxy” at Google, including by speaking out against “affirmative action” or “employment discrimination”.

Ms Dhillon confirmed she was representing Mr Damore but declined to comment further on planned legal actions.

Her firm is also suing the University of California, Berkeley, on behalf of college Republicans and a national organisation challenging the university’s cancellation of a speech by conservative provocateur Ann Coulter.