Google recently removed cultural events such as Black History Month and Pride Month from its calendar by default. Other events that were removed from the default calendar include Jewish Heritage, Indigenous People Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and Hispanic Heritage Month. This move has been met with mixed reactions, with some users praising Google for its decision and others criticizing the company for its lack of inclusivity.
Google's spokesperson, Madison Cushman Veld, confirmed the changes to TechCrunch, saying that in mid-2024, the app reverted to show only what timeanddate.com shows as a public holiday or national observance. "Some years ago, the Calendar team started manually adding a broader set of cultural moments in a wide number of countries around the world. We got feedback that some other events and countries were missing — and maintaining hundreds of moments manually and consistently globally wasn’t scalable or sustainable," the spokesperson said, adding that users can still "manually add other important moments," to their calendars.
This decision by Google comes as the roll-back on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts has taken the spotlight. Big Tech companies have started to end various DEI measures. Meta, Google, and Amazon have all announced a reassessment or elimination of DEI programs, with the latter two adjusting the wording in their 10-K filings to remove some or all mention of DEI.
Google's decision to remove cultural events from its calendar is a significant one, and it is likely to have a ripple effect on other tech companies. It is also a reminder of the ongoing debate about diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
What are the implications of Google's decision?
Google's decision to remove cultural events from its calendar is a significant one, and it is likely to have a ripple effect on other tech companies. It is also a reminder of the ongoing debate about diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
One of the implications of Google's decision is that it could make it more difficult for people to stay informed about important cultural events. This is especially true for people who rely on Google Calendar to keep track of their schedule.
Another implication of Google's decision is that it could send a message that the company is not committed to diversity and inclusion. This could discourage people from working at Google, and it could make it more difficult for the company to attract and retain diverse talent.
What are the arguments for and against Google's decision?
There are a number of arguments both for and against Google's decision to remove cultural events from its calendar.
Arguments for Google's decision:
- Google is a global company, and it is difficult to keep track of all the different cultural events that are celebrated around the world.
- Google's calendar is already very busy, and adding more events could make it difficult for users to find the information they need.
- Google wants to avoid appearing to be biased in favor of any particular culture or group of people.
Arguments against Google's decision:
- Cultural events are an important part of our heritage and history.
- Removing cultural events from Google's calendar sends a message that the company does not value diversity and inclusion.
- Google could have found a way to include more cultural events without making its calendar too cluttered.
What is the future of diversity and inclusion at Google?
It is unclear what the future of diversity and inclusion at Google will be. However, it is clear that the company is facing increasing pressure to do more to address these issues.
One possible solution is for Google to create a new calendar that is dedicated to cultural events. This would allow users to choose whether or not they want to receive notifications about these events.
Another possible solution is for Google to partner with organizations that focus on diversity and inclusion. These organizations could help Google to develop more inclusive policies and practices.
Ultimately, it is up to Google to decide what steps it will take to address the issue of diversity and inclusion. However, it is clear that the company has a long way to go before it can be considered a truly inclusive workplace.
What can you do to support diversity and inclusion?
There are a number of things that you can do to support diversity and inclusion.
Learn more about different cultures and traditions.
Be respectful of people from all backgrounds.
Speak out against discrimination and prejudice.
By taking these steps, you can help to create a more inclusive world for everyone.
Google's decision to remove cultural events from its calendar is a significant one, and it is likely to have a ripple effect on other tech companies. It is also a reminder of the ongoing debate about diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
There are a number of arguments both for and against Google's decision. Ultimately, it is up to Google to decide what steps it will take to address the issue of diversity and inclusion. However, it is clear that the company has a long way to go before it can be considered a truly inclusive workplace.
You can help to support diversity and inclusion by learning more about different cultures and traditions, being respectful of people from all backgrounds, and speaking out against discrimination and prejudice.
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