Julia Love

SAN FRANCISCO, Reuters – Former Google employees filed suit against Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:) Inc on Monday. They claimed that the unit violated their employment agreements by failing to honor its famed motto “Don’t Be Evil.”

Former Google employees Sophie Waldman, Paul Duke, and Rebecca Rivers filed a lawsuit in Santa Clara County state court. They claimed that they were fired for speaking up when they noticed Google breaking its “don’t be evil” pledge.

Google has yet to respond to the request for comment. The employees have allegedly violated the company’s data security policy, as has been stated before.

The ongoing trial by the National Labor Relations Board into whether unfair labor practices were used to stop worker organizing has also been initiated. In recent years, rank-and-file employees and other workers at tech companies have wanted greater control over projects and policies. Managers have resisted, trying to keep control.

Three former Google software engineers raised concerns about cloud technology being sold to U.S immigration officials at Google town halls. Rights activists considered this inhumane.

According to the lawsuit the workers considered potential work in immigration “evil” because they were not subject to Google’s policies which require “acting honourably, treating others with respect”, and “the highest standards of ethical business conduct.” According to Google’s Code of Conduct, employees who feel that the company might be failing to meet its commitment must not remain silent.

Workers are seeking unspecified damages.

Google promoted the core value “Don’t be Evil” for 20+ years.