It isn't voluntary if the date and time is chosen for you. California allows the employer to choose the last day of work. Not the effective date of resignation.
"An involuntary leaving of work occurs when the employer is the moving party in causing the unemployment of an employee at a time when the employee is able and willing to continue working."[1]
Gebru said she would respond after she was back from vacation.[2] So she was willing to continue working that long at least.
The legal definition doesn't matter. She resigned. Google almost surely reported it as a firing so she got her unemployment etc, but in practice they just accelerated her resignation.
Easy to understand example: You say you will quit in 2 weeks. The company fires you on the spot. If people ask the company what happens do you think it is more accurate for them to say you were fired? Would you prefer a company to say you were fired if that happened to you and you used them as a reference?
Pretty sure almost everyone would see that as you quitting and not you being fired. Legally you were fired but in practice you quit.
The factual definition is the same as the legal definition.
I would say they fired me after I gave notice. Saying I resigned would be inaccurate. What I would want them to say doesn't matter. Gebru wanted them to say they fired her. And she didn't give notice.
I would say I resigned before they could fire me if it was the other way around. Or resigned under duress if that's what happened. I know people who did. None of them said they were fired.
"An involuntary leaving of work occurs when the employer is the moving party in causing the unemployment of an employee at a time when the employee is able and willing to continue working."[1]
Gebru said she would respond after she was back from vacation.[2] So she was willing to continue working that long at least.
[1] http://carules.elaws.us/code/t.22_d.1_subd.1_d.1_pt1_ch.5_ar...
[2] https://twitter.com/timnitgebru/status/1334341991795142667