If you read the original article it specifically says he sought out the protestors.
> he went to the lounge on the 10th floor of Google’s New York City office around lunchtime to check out the protest.
Is a single google cafeteria/lounge employee being terminated for happening to be in the lounge when the protest happened? Of course not because that would be nonsense.
If you read the original article it specifically says he sought out the protestors
He was being "Googley" and curious, in other words. And got whacked for it.
From some random snippet attempting to define that nonsense term:
Googleyness is about embracing the unknown. Not just tolerating the unfamiliar, but really appreciating it. Celebrating finding yourself in a place you didn’t expect. Finding the joy in being surprised and dealing with unforeseen circumstances instead of resisting the reality you now occupy