Hello everyone. Welcome to Human Capital, your weekly source for the latest developments in labor issues, diversity, and inclusion within the technology sector. This week began with GitHub issuing a public apology to an employee who was previously terminated after alerting colleagues to the presence of individuals associated with Nazi ideologies in Washington D.C. around the time of the events at the U.S. Capitol.

Subsequently, Google removed corporate access privileges from AI ethicist Margaret Mitchell, a situation drawing comparisons to the company’s earlier handling of Dr. Timnit Gebru’s departure. Simultaneously, Instacart is implementing changes to its operational model that will unfortunately lead to workforce reductions. 

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GitHub’s HR Leader Departs; Reinstatement Offered to Former Employee

An internal review at GitHub determined that “significant errors in judgment and procedure” occurred during the dismissal of the employee who had warned coworkers about individuals with extremist affiliations in the Washington D.C. area during the period of the U.S. Capitol unrest.

In a company blog post, GitHub’s Chief Operating Officer Erica Brescia stated that the head of Human Resources had accepted full accountability for the situation and subsequently resigned. While GitHub has not publicly named the individual, it is broadly understood that Carrie Olesen held the position of chief human resources officer at the time.

GitHub has communicated that it has “reversed the decision regarding the employee’s separation” and is currently engaged in discussions with their representative.

“To the employee, we extend our sincere apologies,” Brescia stated in the blog post. However, the former employee has indicated to reporters that they are seeking a resolution beyond reinstatement, preferring an alternative form of redress.

Google AI Ethicist Subject to Review

Google is conducting a review of AI ethicist Margaret Mitchell following reports that she utilized automated tools to gather evidence related to the circumstances surrounding Dr. Timnit Gebru’s departure, according to Axios. Gebru maintains she was terminated by Google, while Google asserts that she voluntarily resigned. In a statement provided to Axios, Google confirmed that Mitchell’s account had been restricted:

The newly established Alphabet Workers Union released a statement expressing concern over Mitchell’s suspension of corporate access:

“Irrespective of the outcome of the company’s investigation, the continued focus on leaders within this organization raises questions about Google’s dedication to ethical principles—both in the field of AI and in its overall business practices. Numerous members of the Ethical AI team are AWU members, and our union’s membership recognizes the vital importance of their work and offers them solidarity during this time.”

Google’s Sundar Pichai to Engage with HBCU Leadership

At least five presidents of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are scheduled to meet with Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Chief Diversity Officer Melonie Parker later this month to address recent allegations of racial bias and discrimination within the company, according to CNN. The meeting also aims to strengthen the relationship between Google and HBCUs, and to ensure a supportive environment for students and graduates of these institutions.

Background:

Amazon Initiates Anti-Union Campaign

As Amazon warehouse employees in Alabama prepare to vote on potential union representation, Amazon has launched a website dedicated to discouraging unionization. Titled Do It Without Dues, the site is designed to persuade workers against voting in favor of forming a union.

Instacart Announces Plans for Approximately 2,000 Job Eliminations

Instacart is planning to eliminate approximately 2,000 positions, including the 10 employees from the Kroger-owned Mariano’s store who successfully unionized last year, Vice reports. These affected employees are responsible for fulfilling in-store grocery shopping and packing orders.

According to Vice, 10 of the impacted workers are represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1546 in Skokie, Illinois. However, they have not yet finalized a collective bargaining agreement with Instacart, as stated by Vice. Instacart informed the union of these planned changes earlier this week. In a written communication, Instacart indicated its intention to discontinue the use of in-store shoppers at Kroger-owned locations, including the Mariano’s store in Skokie, during the first and second quarters of this year, but no sooner than mid-March.