Google Employee Mark Jen Fired for Blogging
I didn’t want to comment until now. (Dave Taylor offers a good rule: “If you don’t know, don’t spread rumors, even in the blogosphere.”)
But apparently, it’s true. Google fired an employee, Mark Jen, for blogging. You can read the story on Zawodny’s blog. And Battelle’s take here.
Is this the right move for a company with the motto “Do no evil”?
Posted by Brad Fallon on Thursday, February 10th, 2005 at 12:52 pm 
Brad,
That is interesting. Do you think Jenn might fire you for blogging?
Kevin
Hmmm…good thing I can’t fire myself for blogging!
Eric
Ananda Apothecary
Wow yet another reason to work for yourself. You can blog about yourself all you want! LOL.
Garmin GPS, Garmin GPS Accessories
GPS Industry Blog
“Do no evil” as long as it’s not against Google!! Can’t beat being self employed.
Jim
Spy Surveillance Remote DVR – Providing professional grade Embedded Electronic Surveillance Systems and Spy Equipment.
My Spy Tech
Kinda gives me the chills…
Susan
http://www.pedalcarsandretro.com
I read the same thing in WebProNews earlier today. One of Google’s top priorities seems to be about keeping everything top secret and he was a risk they weren’t willing to take. hmmm… they aren’t playing any games when it comes to this matter apparently.
Adam M
Helpful Computer Repair Guides
Interesting article. That guy should start his own internet business.
Air Charter Service Directory
Hi-
I guess I am missing something. Who is Mark Jen? If he is someone big in Google, they are making a tremendous mistake. I am sure Bill Gates is looking for people to build up MSN search and I suspect the first place he is going to look is Google.
Anthony Kane, MD
ADD ADHD Advances
Oppositional Defiant Disorder Help
Welcome to the corporate world!
You give 20 years of your life slaving in a cubicle at half speed and get a cardboard box for your things and a security escort to the door.
You have to be insane to work for a giant company as your sole source of income in this day and age. Especially when it’s so easy to make a few bux on the side with the web.
There is a great course that can help you escape the rat race. I think its called Stomping The Search Engines….
Many corporations have the attitude that they furnish computers to their employees in order to make the employee more productive and to help the company make a profit, not for the purpose of entertaining their employee. Some might consider this corporate concept “short sighted” or perhaps even “mean spirited”. That being said, I also think that most corporations probably realize that their computers will be used for non-sanctioned purposes – at least to some extent. If an employee abuses his computer access by releasing confidential corporate information, he should not be surprised if he provokes a negative reaction.
He wasn’t the only one who got fired. I don’t know how long this has been around but it is an amusing read.
This is a true story from the WordPerfect helpline. Needless to say, the help desk employee was fired; however, he/she is currently suing the Word Perfect organization for “Termination without Cause.”
Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee with a caller:
Customer Support: “Ridge Hall computer assistant; may I help you?”
Caller: “Yes, well, I’m having trouble with WordPerfect.”
CS: “What sort of trouble?”
C: “Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.”
CS: “Went away?”
C: “They disappeared.”
CS: “Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?”
C: “Nothing.”
CS: “Nothing?”
C: “It’s blank; it won’t accept anything when I type.”
CS: “Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out?”
C: “How do I tell?”
CS: “Can you see the C: prompt on the screen?”
C: “What’s a sea-prompt?”
CS: “Never mind. Can you move the cursor around on the screen?”
C: “There isn’t any cursor, I told you, it won’t accept anything I type.”
CS: “Does your monitor have a power indicator?”
C: “What’s a monitor?”
CS: “It’s the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it’s on?”
C: “I don’t know.”
CS: “Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that?”
C: “Yes, I think so.”
CS: “Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it’s plugged into the wall.”
C: “…….Yes, it is.”
CS: “When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one?”
C: “No.”
CS: “Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable.”
C: “…….Okay, here it is.”
CS: “Follow it for me, and tell me if it’s plugged securely into the back of your computer.”
“I can’t reach.”
CS: “Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is?”
C: “No.”
CS: “Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over?”
C: “Oh, it’s not because I don’t have the right angle – it’s because it’s dark.”
CS: “Dark?”
C: “Yes – the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window.”
CS: “Well, turn on the office light then.”
C: “I can’t.”
CS: “No? Why not?”
C: “Because there’s a power outage.”
CS: “A power… A power outage? Ah, Okay, we’ve got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in?”
C: “Well, yes, I keep them in the closet.”
CS: “Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from.”
C: “Really? Is it that bad?”
CS: “Yes, I’m afraid it is.”
C: “Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them?”
CS: “Tell them you’re too stupid to own a computer.”
nothing like working for yourself!
escrima, credit-cards
Pity on him, get fired only for blogging…
Vicky
I think it varies on what may or may not have been said.
Mod Chip
Man I thought they wernt so up tight. I guess that I was wrong. We have to look out for google.
Sounds like it’s time to get hold of Mark Jen for some good inside information into Google, and the search engine algo… Really sounds like a dangerous way to handle your employees.
Travels of a South African in the UK
Sorry for the broken link in previous post.
Travels of a South African in the UK
Brad,
You should talk to him and see what we see??
If you haven’t read Mark Jen’s blog before commenting or making a judgement, you probably should. He seems like a normal guy commenting on his daily life inside the Googleplex – I would probably buy a book on someone’s personal experience on the “inside”. I’ve met Google reps and spent a lot of time using their services and tools – they are a very secret company. To say that Google was “wrong” to fire this guy means that Mr. Jen didn’t violate any internal policies governed but some type of NDA, employment agreement, etc. Any way…his story is one that everyone should read and take to heart…blogging is a very powerful medium and can have consequences.
By Jeff Raab
New Car Quotes
Always got to have that plan B working!!!
Glassware, Hand Painted Glassware and Martini Glasses
how come Brad doesnt use the h1 tag on his wedding site?
It makes more sense now that being successful as an entrepreneur is the way to go so nobody could dictate you on how to be successful.
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That’s why I don’t like working in big company, so many rules to adhere..
When you run your own business you make your own rules
Construction Safety Software>
In all fairness to Google, the guy was still within his first 30 days. You can terminate a new employee within this period without cause. From a management point of view, it’s better now than later when you “own” the employee.
I can understand why a company would be paranoid about employee’s blogs. And Google has the edge in search right now with Yahoo and MSN nipping at their heels, so very understandable that they wouldn’t want their employees blogging ‘out of control’. Employees are always privy to company information, and when blogging might give away company information that Google protects. And Google is smart to protect thier competitive edge.
BUT . . . as popular as Blogging is and with many companies finding blogs beneficial for their company public relations, it would seem prudent for Google to make a company policy of what their blog rules are. And I would think that Google will do just that sometime soon.
Industrial Manufacturing News
I am already buying from china, but this is great
I’d like to know if he really was giving away company secrets. He was entitled to run his own blog, but exactly what was he divulging? I agree with most of the posters here – nothing beats working for yourself and the 10 second commute!
Steve
Drop Ship Wholesaler
Does this mean that google is going to sell off their blogging company
Thants funny. Not for him. Sorry to hear that you lost your job.
Definately have to have plan B. But he (of all people) could have realized to power of blogging. None the less I still feel sorry for people especially good people who find themselves in this situation.
Web Designer
Sorry, so sorry Mark. Companies should really be more interested in keeping good employees instead of punishing!!
Rock Guitar Lessons
hmm. someone to give us even more insight into google workings!
Baton Defense
I’m still scratching my head on why he did this in a public forum..seems like he *wanted* to get fired..
Bed and Breakfast Reviews
Whoa,
Fired for blogging? At google? I thought they were such a cool place to work.
O well back to my own biz.
http://www.great8stuff.com
Whoa,
Fired for blogging? At google? I thought they were such a cool place to work.
O well back to my own biz.
http://www.great8stuff.com
Do you think that more people will be fired ofer blogging on e job?
Actually a developer at friendster also got fired for blogging last year….
Real Estate Agent Directory
Hellooo, people, he wasn’t fired for blogging, he was fired for divulging information about Google that they thought he shouldn’t be talking about. It’s not about blogging, its about being stupid. The same thing would have happened if he were calling people on the phone or writing letters, etc.
I personally think that Google has created a “cult of personality” that is rooted in fear for self preservation. Whether this is good or not… only time will tell.
I can say this though. A company can only go so far by creating a culture of employees who are fearful and second guessing. As a case in point I would consider henry ford. He built a car behmouth, but inner squabbles really made the company suffer.
John
Teething
This is my first time here and was wondering how often posts are made?
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