Memo to All EmployeesIn times of crisis, how would your company react?  Last week, the US implemented a controversial Executive Order (EO) as part of a campaign promise to make America safer.

“The order indefinitely barred Syrian refugees from entering the United States, suspended all refugee admissions for 120 days and blocked citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, refugees or otherwise, from entering the United States for 90 days: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.”1

The EO caught companies and their employees off guard. Below are a few examples of how companies are addressing the situation.

Uber

Uber sent the following email to its employees informing them of the situation and pledging 3 months of pro bono financial support for those impacted.

“This afternoon I sent the email below to Uber employees:

Team,

Yesterday President Trump signed an executive order suspending entry of citizens from seven countries—Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen—to the United States for at least the next 90 days.

Our People Ops team has already reached out to the dozen or so employees who we know are affected: for example, those who live and work in the U.S., are legal residents but not naturalized citizens will not be able to get back into the country if they are traveling outside of the U.S. now or anytime in the next 90 days. Anyone who believes that this order could impact them should contact [email protected] immediately.

This order has far broader implications as it also affects thousands of drivers who use Uber and come from the listed countries, many of whom take long breaks to go back home to see their extended family. These drivers currently outside of the U.S. will not be able to get back into the country for 90 days. That means they will not be able to earn a living and support their families—and of course they will be separated from their loved ones during that time.

We are working out a process to identify these drivers and compensate them pro bono during the next three months to help mitigate some of the financial stress and complications with supporting their families and putting food on the table. We will have more details on this in the coming days.

While every government has their own immigration controls, allowing people from all around the world to come here and make America their home has largely been the U.S.’s policy since its founding. That means this ban will impact many innocent people—an issue that I will raise this coming Friday when I go to Washington for President Trump’s first business advisory group meeting.

Ever since Uber’s founding we’ve had to work with governments and politicians of all political persuasions across hundreds of cities and dozens of countries. Though we share common ground with many of them, we have had areas of disagreement with each of them. In some cases we’ve had to stand and fight to make progress, other times we’ve been able to effect change from within through persuasion and argument.

But whatever the city or country—from the U.S. and Mexico to China and Malaysia—we’ve taken the view that in order to serve cities you need to give their citizens a voice, a seat at the table. We partner around the world optimistically in the belief that by speaking up and engaging we can make a difference. Our experience is that not doing so shortchanges cities and the people who live in them. This is why I agreed in early December to join President Trump’s economic advisory group along with Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla), Mary Barra (Chairwoman/CEO of General Motors), Indra Nooyi (Chairwoman/CEO of Pepsi), Ginni Rometty (Chairwoman/CEO of IBM), Bob Iger (Chairman/CEO of Disney), Jack Welch (former Chairman of GE) and a dozen other business leaders.

I understand that many people internally and externally may not agree with that decision, and that’s OK. It’s the magic of living in America that people are free to disagree. But whatever your view please know that I’ve always believed in principled confrontation and just change; and have never shied away (maybe to my detriment) from fighting for what’s right.

Thanks,

Travis”2

 

Apple

“In an internal memo obtained by CNBC, Apple CEO Tim Cook told employees, ‘There are employees at Apple who are directly affected by yesterday’s immigration order. Our HR, Legal and Security teams are in contact with them, and Apple will do everything we can to support them.’”3

 

Microsoft

“We share the concerns about the impact of the executive order on our employees from the listed countries, all of whom have been in the United States lawfully, and we’re actively working with them to provide legal advice and assistance,” Microsoft told CNBC.4

 

Google

“Our first order of business is to help Googlers who are affected,” Pichai said. “If you’re abroad and need help, please reach out to our global security team.” Pichai added that it was “painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues.”

He, according to Bloomberg, issued a “sharp message to staff traveling overseas who may be impacted by a new executive order” to “Get back to the US now.”5

 

Amazon

“From the very beginning, Amazon has been committed to equal rights, tolerance and diversity — and we always will be,” Beth Galetti, VP, HR, Amazon, was quoted as saying in an internal memo by CNBC.

“We are committed to supporting all of our employees and anyone in their immediate family who may be impacted by this order, including assistance with legal counsel and support, and will continue to monitor any developments,” Galetti said.6

 

 

 

Each of these companies is demonstrating a concern for their employees and have taken action to help affected employees. What could be more engaging than seeing your company look out for your interests regardless of whether or not you are impacted?

 

 

What do you think about the actions these companies are taking?  What additional examples can you share?

 

 

 

1 Stack, Liam. “Trump’s Executive Order on Immigration: What We Know and What We Don’t.” New York Times. The New York Times Company, 29 Jan. 2017. Web. 1 Feb. 2017. <https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/us/trump-refugee-ban-muslim-executive-order.html?_r=0>.
2 Heater, Brian. “Uber CEO offers compensation for drivers impacted by immigration ban, will talk to Trump.” TechCrunch. AOL, 28 Jan. 2017. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. <https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/28/uber-ceo-offers-compensation-for-drivers-impacted-by-immigration-ban-will-talk-to-trump/>.
3 Balakrishnan, Anita, and Harriet Taylor. “Silicon Valley leaders slam Trump travel ban, scramble to insulate staff.” CNBC. CNBC LLC, 30 Jan. 2017. Web. 01 Feb. 2017.
4 Ibid.
5 Kumar, Dhaleta Surender. “How are tech companies helping employees, other impacted by Trump’s travel ban order.” TECHSEEN. TECHSEEN, 30 Jan. 2017. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. <http://techseen.com/2017/01/30/tech-companies-helping-employees-trump-travel-ban-order/>
6 Ibid.

 

 

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