Additional Coverage:
- Inside the outrage over Marc Benioff’s ICE jokes at a pivotal time for Salesforce (businessinsider.com)
Salesforce CEO’s ICE Jokes Spark Employee Outcry Amidst Company Challenges
San Francisco, CA – Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff is facing significant internal backlash after making jokes about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a company-wide event on Tuesday. The comments have reportedly left many employees “horrified” and “on edge,” adding to a challenging period for the tech giant.
Sources inside the company revealed that Benioff, known for his unscripted style, made several references to ICE, including suggesting agents were present for employees who had traveled internationally or had yet to use a company tool. These remarks quickly ignited a firestorm on an internal Slack channel, with employees, and even some executives, expressing strong condemnation.
Rob Seaman, General Manager of Slack (owned by Salesforce), publicly disavowed Benioff’s comments in an internal message, stating, “I cannot defend or explain them. They do not align with my personal values and I know this to be the case for many of you as well.” Craig Broscow, a Salesforce Vice President, called on Benioff to acknowledge the upset his comments caused.
The controversy comes at a precarious time for Salesforce, whose stock has plummeted 43% over the past year. The company has been grappling with investor concerns regarding its business model, the demand for its AI services, and heightened competition. A string of high-profile executive departures since December has further fueled uncertainty.
While Benioff has previously been lauded for taking stances on political issues, such as boycotting Indiana over a religious freedom law in 2015 and offering relocation support to Texas employees after an anti-abortion law in 2021, employees are questioning the sincerity of those past actions. Some have resurfaced earlier statements from Benioff regarding violence and social justice, implying a perceived inconsistency.
Following the event, an excerpt of Benioff’s keynote was posted internally, notably omitting the controversial ICE remarks. Salesforce has not yet issued a public statement addressing the employee concerns.
In the wake of the jokes, employees have reportedly discussed organizing a response, including potential work stoppages and a letter calling on Benioff to publicly denounce ICE and prohibit the agency from using Salesforce services. Some employees also reported receiving emails from the company scolding them for missing event programming after Benioff’s comments, with one employee on Slack stating, “You should not be punished for not wanting to be in an environment that made you or any of your colleagues feel psychologically or physically unsafe.”
Read More About This Story:
- Inside the outrage over Marc Benioff’s ICE jokes at a pivotal time for Salesforce (businessinsider.com)