Google’s ‘Gag’ Rule for Workers Challenged in Class Suit

By Kevin McGowan, Bloomberg BNA

Google Inc. is violating state law and constitutional guarantees by requiring its employees to sign overly broad confidentiality agreements that infringe their freedom to speak and work, according to a class lawsuit filed in California state court.

John Doe, an anonymous Google product manager, alleged the company effectively designates anything about the job as confidential and enforces its “gag” rule through threats of termination and legal action. Company policy bars even former Google employees from discussing their prior salary and working conditions with new employers, the complaint filed Tuesday said.

Doe alleges myriad violations of ...