Google's chief executive has said 48 employees, including 13 senior managers, have been sacked for sexual harassment in two years.

Sundar Pichai said the tech company had taken "an increasingly hard line" in responding to inappropriate conduct, according to a copy of an email sent to employees.

The letter was a response to a New York Times article saying a senior Google employee, Android creator Andy Rubin, had received an exit package worth $90m (£70m) as he faced allegations of misconduct.

Rubin left the company in 2014 with what the newspaper described as a "hero's farewell".

Mr Pichai said the article had been "difficult to read".

He added: "We are dead serious about making sure we provide a safe and inclusive workplace.

"We want to assure you that we review every single complaint about sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct, we investigate and we take action."

He said none of those sacked received an exit package and told employees the company "support and respect those who have spoken out".

"Because we know that reporting harassment can be traumatic, we provide confidential channels to share any inappropriate behaviour you experience or see".

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The email is also signed by Eileen Naughton, Google's vice president of people operations.

It came as Google's parent company Alphabet announced third quarter profits up 36% at $9.2bn (£7.1bn).

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