Google must allow employees to discuss workplace issues, new settlement determines

Google will not be required to admit it did anything wrong in a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) settlement over complaints the tech giant restricted employees' speech - but Google does have to inform employees of their protected free speech rights.

The Wall Street Journal (paywalled link) reported the news first today, and says the NLRB agreement addresses complaints that Google reacted unfavorably to workplace dissent.

Google confirmed the settlement details to The New York Times, then and others.

We have agreed to post a notice to our employees reminding them of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act, a spokesperson said. As a part of that notice, we will also remind employees of the changes we made to our workplace policies back in 2016 and 2017 that clarified those policies do not prevent employees from discussing workplace issues.

Adi Robertson for The Verge:

The Journal writes that one of the complaints involves Kevin Cernekee, who alleged he was fired for his conservative political beliefs. (The Daily Caller later published posts where Cernekee suggested raising money for neo-Nazi Richard Spencer, something Cernekee claimed was unrelated to Spencers politics.) President Trump promoted Cernekee on Twitter after he appeared on Fox Business, raising Cernekees profile. A second complaint reportedly involved an employee who posted unflattering opinions about a Google executive on Facebook.

The Journal initially reported that the settlement covered talking about political and workplace issues. In a statement, Google partially denied that description. There has been some misreporting this morning about Googles workplace, the spokesperson told The Verge.