Google employee loses job during maternity leave, says it feels like she is already failing as a mother

• Image Credit: Internet

• Apr 23, 2023 | Kabir Chakraborty

One such laid-off employee recently posted on LinkedIn about how she lost her source of income while on maternity leave and feels she is already "failing as a mother."

for paying its employees well and delivering
great incentives. It was recently reported that the corporation is reducing
incentives for existing employees in order to save money. Since Google announced
layoffs, a lot of employees have come out to discuss their experiences on
LinkedIn. Many of those laid off were expecting mothers on maternity leave. One
such laid-off employee recently posted on LinkedIn about how she lost her
source of income while on maternity leave and feels she is already
"failing as a mother."

Google
employee loses job on maternity leave

mso-themecolor:text1">Brittany Lappano had been a Google employee since October
2021. She was, however, one of the 12,000 employees who lost their jobs as part
of the January layoffs. Brittany lost her job when she was 14 weeks pregnant
and has been hunting for work ever since. Her situation is now concerning
because she is only on payroll until April 28. She then declares that she will
be 'out of work for a year'.

mso-themecolor:text1">

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">"I need your help," she stated on
LinkedIn. I was 14 weeks pregnant when I lost my ideal job. "My baby is
due 7/13, but I'm on the payroll until 4/28," the calendar became an
urgent calculation. If I don't find something starting soon, I'll be unemployed
for a year." This is my last-ditch effort.

"Losing
a six-month paid maternity leave and a three-month "ramp back"
period, as well as the ability to qualify for FMLA and state leave benefits
elsewhere due to required service timelines - and potentially having to sit out
from work for a full year - are colossal consequences to pay for a
non-performance-based layoff." My days are spent battling thoughts that
I'm already failing as a mother by exposing my child to such uncertainty."

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">The ex-Google employee then shared five
methods that people can assist her. She asked that an introduction be made in
case anyone could assist her. She also indicated interest in a six-week
contract or freelance project.

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">Despite being fired by one of them, Brittany
sought help in contacting with recruiting managers at pregnancy-friendly
organisations. She also advocated for legislative amendments to address the
issue of severance and parental leave, underlining the importance of equal
packages.

"I think about how easy it'd be to
pack up our NYC lives, move back to Florida, and abandon my career aspirations
because of this setback - and then I think about the kind of mom I want to
be," she said at the end of her piece. And I want to be the type of mother
that never gives up. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you."

Some ex-Google employees had banded together and sent an open letter to
CEO Sundar Pichai, pleading with him to manage the matter properly and not back
out on paying staff for pre-approved time off.

The
employees opened the letter by informing the CEO that Alphabet's (Google's
parent company) choice to cut its personnel has had a global impact and that
the workers' voices have not been heard anywhere. The employees went on to say
that they know they are "stronger together" than they are
"alone," and that they are "coming together from all over the
world to be heard." The employees wanted five 'public pledges' from Google
CEO, according to the letter.