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Google, Apple Settle Justice Dept. Hiring Probe

Posted by timothy on from the now-they-won't-hire-from-doj-either dept.

Ponca City, We Love You writes "The LA Times reports that under a proposed settlement with the Justice Department, six major Silicon Valley firms — Google, Apple, Intel, Adobe, Intuit and Pixar — would be barred from pledging not to 'cold call' one another's employees. Federal officials have been scrutinizing such agreements for more than a year, concerned that they restrained competition for skilled workers and kept an artificial cap on wages by avoiding expensive bidding wars. If the court fight had proceeded, it could have helped decide the legality of such accords, not just in the high-tech sector but across all industries. But the fight had risks for each side. To win, the Justice Department would have had to convince a court that workers had suffered significant harm. A loss for the companies would have opened the door to a rush of lawsuits."

9 of 73 comments (clear)

  1. Do no Evil? by mfh · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Google is probably in the worst position for this to come out because it's yet another example of how bad that company has become.

    Does anyone have a good suggestion for an email provider and a search engine now?

    It's like Google has become what Yahoo was back in the day.

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    The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
    1. Re:Do no Evil? by borgboy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That's not a valid argument. It's an implied ad hominem at best. You can do better. Do so, or shut your FUD spreading mouth.

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      meh.
    2. Re:Do no Evil? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Oh give me a break, there is absolutely no "evil" here.

      Basically, there were a few companies that were closely partnered together on various things. To maintain good relations, they basically said "hey, don't go out of your way to try and steal our employees" to each other. The employees were ALWAYS free to go to another of the companies, they just didn't want the recruiting departments actively trying to poach.

      The only way this is "evil" is if you're specifically trying to find fault with Google and grasping at straws.

    3. Re:Do no Evil? by The+Hatchet · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It is absolutely evil, and I am typically one to defend google. Lowering peoples wages on purpose, making their lives harder, and concentrating money at the top of the company and the top of society is a load of bullshit and is terrible for society. Headhunting increases the amount companies need to pay their employees to get them to stay, and to make sure rival offers don't steal employees. It is exactly what needs to be happening all the time in every industry to stop this 2/3 jobs and still poor bullshit happening around the country, and the whole 60% of the wealth to 5% of the people. It is why college students like me are going to be debt slaves until we are fucking 40, if we live that long killing ourselves with 80-100 hour weeks until hell freezes over. What a dumb anonymous bitch.

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      Where is the mod rating for "scary"? Also, ...
    4. Re:Do no Evil? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      It probably has something to do with the fact that your paychecks are probably half the size of mine, regardless of the fact that you probably have a better skillset. Google employees are seriously underpaid for what they do, and agreements like this between companies help make that possible.

    5. Re:Do no Evil? by Draconmythica · · Score: 1, Insightful

      You really should have tried at least reading the summary. Cold calling competitors is exactly what Google had an agreement with these companies NOT to do. The justice department is forcing them to dissolve that agreement out of the notion that it is hurting the employees to not receive these cold calls. Next time try listening a little before opening your mouth.

    6. Re:Do no Evil? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      It probably has something to do with the fact that your paychecks are probably half the size of mine, regardless of the fact that you probably have a better skillset.

      So, as long as we are posting as anon, we can easily compare this with some glassdoor links. Here's Google's: http://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Google-Salaries-E9079.htm So what company do you work for that pays an out of college grad 200K/yr + bonus, and can I get their number?

  2. Re:Chris O'Brien summed it up best: by russotto · · Score: 2, Insightful

    6. People maintained lists. They kept records. According to the complaint: "Pixar instructed human resources personnel to adhere to the agreement and maintain a paper trail in the event Apple accused Pixar of violating the agreement." Dumb.

    8. Did they really not think this would come to light? Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.

    These are only dumb if the companies involved thought they were doing something illegal.

  3. Re:Chris O'Brien summed it up best: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Your analogy is just terrible. Personal relationships and business relationships are two different things. This isn't about 4 people, this is about thousands, and you know what? None of the employees were asked their opinion.

    Sorry, but you didn't illustrate the problem, you illustrated your ignorance of it.