Shaun Maguire could't be promoted for being white, at Google

https://twitter.com/shaunmmaguire/status/1760872265892458792

by neverrroot • 2 years ago

43 41 2 years ago

neverrroot13• 2 years ago

Google is one of the most important companies in the IT sector. This being HN, there’s a legitimate interest in bringing this out. Also, I have searched HN for similar posts from the past, there are such posts, that are not flagged.

neverrroot13• 2 years ago

“I’m really not supposed to tell you this. It could get me fired.

But you’re one of the highest performing people here but I can’t promote you right now because I have a quota. My hands are tied. You’ll get the next slot. Please be patient. I’m really sorry.”

— Google

https://x.com/shaunmmaguire/status/1760885099984261564

quelltext3• 2 years ago

So, where's the actual story?

I don't use X so maybe it's buried somewhere else.

Even the tweet you mentioned wasn't directly discoverable from the submission.

But it looks like he already tweeted months ago that this had happened.

What's actually new info now?

SushiHippie• 2 years ago

FYI this was just my teaser story… not even close to the worst of it

https://x.com/shaunmmaguire/status/1760908574870368513

Xlythe• 2 years ago

Google, internally, is pretty up front that there's a forced distribution (or quota) for performance ratings and promotions. It's for budgetary reasons, and it's not strictly enforced, but it's published and often referred to. Past a certain level, a business justification is also needed in addition to merit.

The quota the manager was referring to was very likely that.

quelltext3• 2 years ago

Saying they have a quota doesn't mean "because you are white".

I mean, it has a similar effect but it's not like we don't know quotas exist and are largely tolerated, are they not? Are quotas outright illegal in the US?

Do we know it was a racial quota? Now, gender quota would still not be better for the author but this is still lacking in novelty.

endomorphosis• 2 years ago

Yes, Quotas are illegal in the USA.

newbie578• 2 years ago

What I don’t understand is why do startups and other upcoming competitors not use this to their advantage?

Google’s loss is your gain. If they are pushing DEI, won’t you as a startup then gain for hiring based on meritocracry?

zx8080• 2 years ago

If the company can promote others but not the one who performs enough for the promotion, then it's a clear signal:

performance is not an important factor for promotion anymore.

rmbyrro2• 2 years ago

Which explains the ridiculously bad performance of their products. And getting worse everyday.

rmbyrro2• 2 years ago

This is why I'm not even considering migrating my OpenAI usage to Gemini.

OpenAI has already replaced ~95% of Google Search for me.

This company is rotting from inside, perpetrating racism, creating societal divide, disrespecting human values, and delivering sub-par products.

Our grandfathers literally died to end this kind of shit. And these 21th century clowns want to bring it back.

drcongo3• 2 years ago

Why should anyone be promoted just because they're white?

neverrroot13• 2 years ago

That's just as wrong, and clearly not the case here.

The promotion was not done due to a "quota" in spite of him being "one of the highest performing people [there]".

drcongo3• 2 years ago

The thread title, and indeed the quoted tweet, both make the same claim: "promoted for being white" and "I was told I can’t be promoted for being a white man". Nobody should be promoted just because they're white.

ZeroGravitas• 2 years ago

Was he radicalised into supporting Tucker Carlson and Andrew Tate by this experience or has he always been that kind of guy?

manuelabeledo2• 2 years ago

According to his LinkedIn, he didn't even work at Google.

I'd say he's just another alt right drama queen.

jjackson5324• 2 years ago

His LinkedIn literally says he worked at Google Ventures.

I’d say you’re just not very good at reading comprehension.

Simulacra2• 2 years ago

Amazing how this gets flagged and falls off the front page…

neverrroot13• 2 years ago

I have no idea how this stuff works, do you know?

nickthegreek7• 2 years ago

I flagged it because when I click on the link I see:

@shaunmmaguire Fuck it, This happened at Google That company is an absolute trash can dumpster fire

And that is it. If there is more content there, it is behind a sign in wall.

neverrroot13• 2 years ago

Just opened the link in all browsers I have, without being logged in on X in any of them.

There is on all of them a quoted tweet clearly and completely visible. That quoted tweet/post reads: “Should I go public with the story about the time I was told I can’t be promoted for being a white man?”

List of browsers I tried:

- Firefox, Chromium under Linux

- Safari, Chromium under macOS

- Firefox, Safari and embedded browser( inside of HACK app) on iOS/iPhone

- Firefox, Chrome on Android

neverrroot13• 2 years ago

If you want me, I can upload screenshots to your place of choice to prove my claims made in the prior post

Simulacra2• 2 years ago

This is why you should probably record every meeting you have with your boss about performance. Imagine if he had gotten this on tape, saying that I'm sorry it's because you're white, I can't promote you. That's a great lawsuit.

Shaun Maguire could't be promoted for being white, at Google

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