Also, the fact that they didn't hide their tracks indicates that they most likely aware completely unaware that they might be causing any harm to the company.
A lapse in judgement, maybe -- but if so, the appropriate response would be a private reprimand, not a bullet to the head.
Especially considering that no conceivable harm has come to Google as a result of this leaking, and that it's impossible to keep news like this secret in the Valley, anyway.
The memo says: CONFIDENTIAL: INTERNAL ONLY
GOOGLERS ONLY (FULL TIME AND PART TIME EMPLOYEES)
right at the top.
When an employee starts working at google they go to orientation where they get briefed on a lot of things about the company, fill out HR paperwork etc. One of the documents they get and one of the discussions they have is how you don't release confidential information of the companies or its clients.
I don't see how it's possible to go through employee orientation and not know that releasing a document that says "INTERNAL ONLY" would be a terminable offense.
That may be true, but strategically, the information in the memo was good press for Google, and the firing of the employee for leaking it is bad press for Google.
If I believe the media that this leaked memo might bring attention from the DoJ back onto Google over the anti poaching agreements then the leak and it's contents are bad news.
If I'm trusting Google with my data then the termination of the employee for violating their code of conduct could absolutely be viewed as good news.
Any of this being good or bad is completely dependent your view point and how it might affect you. If I'm a shareholder I'm glad the employee is gone and not necessarily happy that the DoJ might take a closer look at the company or estimated billion dollars this will cost each year. If I'm a potential Google employee I'm probably a little bit wary about the termination and glad that they are paying more competitive salaries but potentially disappointed that future bonuses will be reduced.
A lapse in judgement, maybe -- but if so, the appropriate response would be a private reprimand, not a bullet to the head.
Especially considering that no conceivable harm has come to Google as a result of this leaking, and that it's impossible to keep news like this secret in the Valley, anyway.