[tomjakubowski]

I don't think you understand. It is the morale of the whole Google X rank and file, or at least, some large portion thereof, that's at risk. If my employer protected a sexually harassing executive like this, I would be quickly looking for a new job and likely be significantly less productive in the meantime. Why should I bother to work hard for a company whose leaders have those values?

That's why execs even bother to put out damage control emails like the one Astro Teller sent. Or the ones following mass layouts. They are trying to stop the morale bleeding to avoid a crisis. Maybe it will work this time, maybe it won't and they'll have to fire DeVaul.

[creep]

You might leave but many other employees wouldn't, for the usual reasons (apathy, money, livelihood, prestige, etc). Obviously it's not a big deal for Google X since they kept their accused exec. It's only a big deal now because it's in the public eye again.

Also, I'm sure a lot of employees weren't, and maybe still aren't, even aware that an accused man still works at their company. Most employees at any company don't have reason to be in contact with or have any information whatsoever about the executives of that company and, apart from that, businesses will work hard to keep that info under the radar.

Mass layoffs definitely get around in the workplace because it's directly related to everyone's job security. Some exec accused of sexual assault doesn't really affect job security, so most people don't really care to know, if they ever catch wind of it anyways. There isn't a huge cost here when the majority of your workforce doesn't know and doesn't care.