Terminated for Taking Paternity Leave, Former Goldman Sachs VP Files ￡3.8 Million Lawsuit

A former vice president at Goldman Sachs, Jonathan Reeves, has filed a ￡3.8 million ($5 million) lawsuit against the investment bank, accusing it of sex discrimination. Reeves claims he was wrongfully terminated after taking six months of paternity leave in 2022. The lawsuit, filed in a London court, alleges that the bank's senior management displayed negativity toward male employees taking extended parental leave or managing childcare duties.

Reeves, who had a 15-year career at Goldman Sachs, returned from paternity leave only to be told his job was at risk due to alleged performance issues. Despite his previous track record, he received negative feedback for the first time, and within five weeks, his employment was terminated. He argues that if he were a female employee in a similar role, the dismissal would not have occurred.

Goldman Sachs denies the allegations, stating that the decision to let Reeves go was due to longstanding performance concerns, not his parental leave. The bank also revealed that Reeves had secretly recorded several meetings during his time in the compliance department, which they called a serious breach of conduct.

This case highlights potential gender bias in handling paternity leave, despite Goldman Sachs having introduced a 26-week paid parental leave policy for all new parents in 2019.

Dell Implements Five-Day Return-to-Office Policy for Global Sales Team

Dell Technologies has introduced a sudden five-day return-to-office (RTO) policy for its global sales team, requiring all employees who can work from a Dell office to be physically present five days a week. This policy was communicated through an internal memo on September 26, leaving employees with limited time to adjust.

The new directive, announced by sales leaders Bill Scannell and John Byrne, marks a shift from the hybrid model that allowed staff to work on-site three days per week. Employees, many of whom had structured their lives around the previous work arrangement, are now grappling with the challenge of reorganizing their schedules.

The memo provided no clear timeline for when employees should be fully transitioned, causing concern among staff members. Some speculate that Dell's decision could be linked to Amazon’s similar RTO policy, which is set to take effect in January 2025.

While Dell encourages flexibility and advises employees to coordinate with managers regarding individual needs, reports indicate that many workers are swiftly complying with the new mandate. Office spaces are crowded, and parking lots are full as the sales team adjusts to the sudden change.

Meesho Offers Employees a 9-Day Paid Break to Rest & Recharge

Meesho, the e-commerce platform, is once again capturing attention with its employee-friendly initiative by offering a nine-day paid break from 26 October to 3 November. This break, now in its fourth consecutive year, encourages employees to completely disconnect from work—no emails, Slack messages, or meetings—allowing them to focus on mental and physical well-being.

Announced in a LinkedIn post that received nearly 19,000 reactions, the initiative is designed to help employees "reset and recharge" after a busy period, including the successful completion of their Mega Blockbuster Sale. By giving their staff the opportunity to rest fully, Meesho aims to prepare them for a fresh and energized start in the coming year.

LinkedIn users praised the initiative, with many applauding Meesho for leading by example and prioritizing employee well-being in today's fast-paced work culture. The idea of total disconnection, free from work-related tasks, was highly appreciated, with comments highlighting how this could foster a more balanced and motivated workforce.

Odisha Hikes Employee Gratuity to Rs 20 Lakh, Effective January 2024

In a significant move, the Odisha government has increased the Death-Cum-Retirement Gratuity (DCRG) limit for state employees from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, effective from 1 January, 2024. This retrospective enhancement will benefit all regular state-government employees, providing a much-needed financial boost to retirees and the families of deceased employees.

The decision comes after demands from Service Associations to align the state’s gratuity structure with the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, and reflects the state’s commitment to improving employee welfare. This increased gratuity limit not only offers a financial cushion but also fosters long-term employment loyalty in government service.

Why Did Google Pay $2.7 Billion for an Ex-AI Employee?

Google’s recent $2.7 billion acquisition of Character Al has raised eyebrows, with many speculating that the tech giant made the hefty investment primarily to bring back Noam Shazeer, the co-founder of Character AI, into its fold. Shazeer, one of Google's early employees who joined in 2000, is now back as the Vice President of Engineering and co-lead of Google's ambitious AI project, Gemini.

Shazeer had made a significant impact during his time at Google, contributing to foundational AI research. However, he left the company after Google decided not to release a chatbot he developed, which he later turned into Character AI. His company gained traction by producing AI chatbots designed to help people struggling with loneliness. Yet, amidst financial difficulties at Character AI, Google seized the opportunity to acquire the company—and Shazeer's expertise along with it.

This acquisition not only alleviated Character AI's financial strain but also brought Shazeer back to Google at a critical time for the company's AI ambitions. Many in Silicon Valley are now wondering if this acquisition is part of a larger "acquihiring" trend, where companies are purchased mainly to onboard talent, as Google seeks to lead the race in AI innovation with its Gemini project.