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A software company comes up with
a brilliant corporate speech policy

Original Article

Posted By: Maryland_Patriot, 5/3/2021 12:14:56 PM

Basecamp is remote work software that provides a single online environment in which workers on a single project can consolidate everything they do on that project. No matter where you are, there's a virtual meeting space in cyberspace. That's pretty cool. What's really cool about Basecamp, though, is its CEO's new rule: people may not discuss politics at work. With that single announcement, a third of the workforce quit. Other American corporations should follow suit.

Comments:

Maybe it will catch on.

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Reply 1 - Posted by: gramma b 5/3/2021 12:34:48 PM (No. 774164)
They’re well rid of the ones who quit.
16 people like this.

Reply 2 - Posted by: red1066 5/3/2021 12:57:08 PM (No. 774186)
I'll have my son apply for a job today.
9 people like this.

Reply 3 - Posted by: Strike3 5/3/2021 1:15:15 PM (No. 774208)
I heard that same ridiculous pronouncement at a health insurance firm where I had a programming contract. It all stemmed from a conversation we were having at lunch concerning the stupidity of Barack Obama while seated amongst a group of black girls. I got my racist butt out of there shortly afterwards.
5 people like this.

Reply 4 - Posted by: NeverForget 5/3/2021 1:23:29 PM (No. 774213)
My feelings about this are mixed. I agree that it is wise for companies to refrain from getting political with regard to controversies issues. I also think that the political climate is ugly and that immaturely conducted political conversations lead to lower workplace productivity. On the othee other hand, a complete ban on the issues of the day in the workplace, where many of us spend about half our waking hours is a heavy handed solution. Zero tolerance makes enforcement easier, but not necessarily an ideal policy. Also, what else will be banned? Religion?
2 people like this.

Reply 5 - Posted by: Plex 5/3/2021 1:29:47 PM (No. 774217)
Wanna bet the political affiliation of those that quit? Democrats
6 people like this.

Reply 6 - Posted by: DVC 5/3/2021 1:31:06 PM (No. 774219)
I figured out a LONG time ago that talking politics at work was a bad idea. I had a few friends who I knew were conservatives, and even then, I kept it pretty bland at work. No POSSIBLE upside, and huge possible downsides.
10 people like this.

Reply 7 - Posted by: bpl40 5/3/2021 1:32:03 PM (No. 774220)
My problem with Coke is not so much their politics but the fact they delve into it. They should stick to soft drinks. Just as P & G should stick feminine hygiene products and not deciding who is a woman.
4 people like this.

Reply 8 - Posted by: DVC 5/3/2021 1:32:45 PM (No. 774221)
#4, respectfully, you are way off base. It is a WORKPLACE, not a club, or a gym, or any other place for political discussions. You are there to WORK. And anything whatsoever that detracts from that should be stopped.
15 people like this.

Reply 9 - Posted by: zephyrgirl 5/3/2021 1:44:23 PM (No. 774233)
I dug through some of the links in the article and a NYT article. What appears to have happened is that a new hire (hired in December) took it upon himself/herself to form a Diversity and Inclusion committee that up to 20% of the other employees joined. The group started looking into company policies and questioning what the founders/owners decisions and hires. The founders/owners, good liberal progressives, didn't like the children trying to take over their successful business, and instituted the new policy (which is their right as founders/owners). Many of the children didn't like it, and quit. This is a classic tale of indulging immature millennials who have sky-high self esteem despite being morons about how companies work. Companies exist to make a profit for their owners, not to engage in vanity projects that add no value. Let's hope both sides learned something from this dumpster fire.
11 people like this.

Reply 10 - Posted by: Luandir 5/3/2021 1:58:58 PM (No. 774252)
In other words, for a third of the employees, political advocacy was a higher priority than the work they were paid to do. Good riddance. Can you imagine how Basecamp is going to prosper when that third is replaced by more focused and dedicated workers?
10 people like this.

Reply 11 - Posted by: starboard 5/3/2021 2:06:25 PM (No. 774260)
I learned early in life never to talk about politics in the workplace. Most Republicans know that. We are used to keeping our mouths shut. We are the party that adheres to social mores. However, if I'm not in the workplace, I put not restraints on myself. However, I did at one time, but those days are now gone when I decided to come out of the closet about my political affiliation and say with pride that I'm a Republican. I think President Trump had something to do with that.
7 people like this.

Reply 12 - Posted by: earlybird 5/3/2021 2:08:42 PM (No. 774266)
I used to call it “creative turnover” when any bad employee - executive or down the ladder, singular or in groups - left the corporations I was with.
3 people like this.

Reply 13 - Posted by: montwoodcliff 5/3/2021 2:14:00 PM (No. 774272)
Are you kidding me? I would have taken that severance package in a heart beat if I knew another job was waiting for me elsewhere. Management made the right call, but I would not have offered that severance package. If one doesn't like the policy, too bad. Just go elsewhere.
5 people like this.

Reply 14 - Posted by: PlayItAgain 5/3/2021 2:49:09 PM (No. 774298)
I suspect that Basecamp is a much more pleasant place to work than it was. While I don't think it's possible to monitor the speech of others in private conversation, neither should we try, the company forums that appear to be so common among many software corporations have in fact become quite toxic and threatening. I'm sure that some of the people that are complaining about this move by management have left sanctimonious posts on these forums that are offensive and should very well have gotten them fired. It would be interesting to see the reaction from this crowd if management ever decides to release the chat threads to the public. I would like to see them do that.
2 people like this.

Reply 15 - Posted by: 4Diogenes 5/3/2021 4:24:17 PM (No. 774382)
Who knew it would be so easy to get rid of deadwood in today's workplace? They will have excellent applicants lining up for any openings they might have. Smart employers will be following suit.
1 person likes this.

Reply 16 - Posted by: coyote 5/3/2021 5:05:33 PM (No. 774423)
In the '60s, 70s, and 80s, I worked for a corporation whose name would be recognized by anyone reading this. Their policy was no religious or political recruiting at work. We still talked politics, some, but mostly we just did our jobs. It worked well.
1 person likes this.

Reply 17 - Posted by: Schnapps 5/3/2021 6:44:52 PM (No. 774528)
"Forbidden topic of discussion are stagecoach robberies and Indian uprisings. Also don’t discuss politics or religion... " - Wells Fargo Stagecoach passenger rules - 1850
0 people like this.

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