Google's Dublin HQ staff stage walk-out in sexual harassment protest

Hundreds of Google employees have staged a walkout at the tech giant's EU headquarters as part of a worldwide protest against sexual harassment.

The action was organised over the company's treatment of women after claims of sexual misconduct were made against senior Google executives in a New York Times article.

Staff at the HQ in Barrow Street, Dublin, left their desks at about 11am to take part in the almost hour-long demonstration.

They are demanding an end to pay inequality, more accountability in cases of harassment and better representation for workers.

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Kate, a Google employee who would not give her last name, thanked all the employees who congregated outside the building to make a statement with their presence.

She said she decided to co-ordinate the Dublin gathering "in solidarity with anybody who has experienced any form of sexual harassment or misconduct in the workplace".

"While I have not personally experienced any form of sexual harassment or misconduct at Google I wish to create a space for all of us here to gather together and show our support for doing whatever it takes to eliminate any such awful behaviour," Kate said.

She told the crowd: "I stand here ... as an ally to anyone who has suffered, anyone who is suffering or anyone who may suffer from any such unacceptable treatment."

Google employs more than 7,000 staff directly and indirectly in Ireland.

Staff in London, Berlin, Zurich, Singapore and Tokyo also left their desks to take part in demonstrations.