James Damore, the Google employee fired for his internal memo on diversity programs and “monocultures,” has raised claims of interference with protected concerted activity as well as retaliation for his complaints about Google’s allegedly discriminatory policies. But Damore and his attorneys have charged Google with a third potential motive and attendant violation: firing him for his political and ideological views. A claim oriented around political, ideological, or viewpoint discrimination may seem to fit most naturally with Damore’s memo, as it criticizes the ideological culture at Google and presses for more free-flowing discussion and debate, particularly around issues of workplace diversity.
