Former Google employee Claire Stapleton releases memoir on company culture and 2018 walkout

Memoir Release by Walkout Organizer

Claire Stapleton, a former communications specialist at Google and a key organizer of the 2018 Google employee walkout, has published a new memoir. The book, titled "Don’t Be Evil: Bad Bosses, Fake Promises, and My Escape from Big Tech—A Biting Memoir of Twelve Years Inside Google," recounts her experiences within the company.

Journey from Enthusiast to Dissident

Stapleton joined Google in 2007 and initially viewed it as a highly desirable workplace. Over her 12-year tenure, her perspective shifted, culminating in her involvement with the 2018 walkout, which protested the company's handling of sexual misconduct allegations and other grievances. She resigned six months after the walkout, stating she was demoted during a restructuring as retaliation for her role in organizing the protest.

Cultural Shifts and Disillusionment

The memoir explores Stapleton's growing disquiet with Google's corporate culture. She describes a particularly challenging period at Google Creative Lab in New York, which she characterized as "half utopian, half dystopian." Her experiences there, coupled with broader cultural changes within the company, contributed to her decision to become an activist and ultimately leave Google.

Impact and Motivation for Writing

Stapleton's initial essay about her departure from Google garnered significant attention, leading to interest from book agents. While she initially resisted writing a book, she eventually decided to document her complex feelings and experiences, providing an insider's perspective on the company's evolution and the events leading to the 2018 walkout.