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One of his parents died and the other was severely injured, no? Who wouldn't take leave under those circumstances?

owlninja 9y ago
That was the consensus yesterday too.
kevindqc 9y ago
Yeah. His mom died and his dad was severely injured in a boating accident. Very curious there is no mention of that. Edit: They actually mention it at the end of the article http://fortune.com/2017/06/02/uber-ceo-parents-tribute-boating-accident/ http://fortune.com/2017/06/02/uber-ceo-parents-tribute-boati...
- TarpitCarnivore 9y ago
  Right near the end of the article it says: > Kalanick decided to take a leave while also coping with the death of his mother, whose funeral he attended Friday.
  - kevindqc 9y ago
    Ah thanks, I missed that sentence.
- lyonlim 9y ago
  The newscaster did mention that he hasn't been at work since the incident, spending time instead with his dad. It's a challenging time for anyone going through this, even if he's overseen some questionable things at his company.
  - HenryBemis 9y ago
    I may dislike Uber, and Travis, and the worldwide practices of the firm, BUT a tragic loss is a tragic loss. I hope his father recovers completely and that together they will manage to cope with the lose of a Mother and Wife. (same goes to all who have lost a loved one irrespective of how they run their business)
- jfktrey 9y ago
  It's simple. It doesn't fit in with the rest of the defamatory narrative they were just itching to write for the rest of the article. Either that, or they simply didn't know. But I find the latter hard to believe. Even if that detail was missed, it's very poor journalism to not find the full story.
samfisher83 9y ago
Based on this quote: "If we are going to work on Uber 2.0, I also need to work on Travis 2.0 to become the leader that this company needs and that you deserve," Kalanick wrote in an email obtained by BuzzFeed News. "During the interim period, the leadership team, my directs, will be running the company." It appears he is leaving more due to the issues with uber then him mom dying, but I am sure it contributed.
- koolba 9y ago
  If this were a book or movie, a significant life event like either of those (or both) would be the natural opening of a new arc.
- lhorie 9y ago
  You're quoting out of context. The first line of the email explicitly says he's taking time off to grieve, reflect and work on himself, in that order (he also enumerates "focus on building a leadership team" as a reason, though I'm not really sure how that is supposed to be done when one's taking time off) The second paragraph (the one you quoted) is a tie-in to the third paragraph, where he says what's going to happen in terms of leadership during this interim period.
zoomzippity 9y ago
Buried at the very very bottom of the article as a footnote. Glossing over the tragedy of unexpectedly losing one's mother and almost losing One's father. The media reporting on Uber absolutely disgusts me and demonstrates a culture far more toxic than anything I've heard about Uber. My bet is that the media doesn't make public any email from Travis about this because it will likely show how the media is grossly misrepresenting things. FWIW How people read online: why you won't finish this article. http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2013/06/how_people_read_online_why_you_won_t_finish_this_article.html http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2013/06/...
- bjl 9y ago
  So Greyball was fake? How about their Hell program? Or the fact that one of their executives illegally acquired a rape victims medical reports and circulated them around the office? Uber has continuously demonstrated a total disregard for both the law and common decency. They lost the benefit of the doubt a long time ago.
  - wavefunction 9y ago
    Kalanick was aware and had seen the rape victim's health records and apparently it was an attempt (by Emil?) to figure out how to discredit the victim and her accusations. These are horrific people and while I sympathize with Kalanick over the loss of his mother and his father's situation, I do not wish him any professional success.
    - mst 9y ago
      My position here is "I am entirely capable of hating Kalanick and the reporting about Kalanick at the same time".
- jboggan 9y ago
  I'm reminded of the Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect - how we are constantly surprised when the media gets crucial details (which we are personally familiar with) so very wrong in their reporting. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/08/the-murray-gell-mann-amnesia-effect/ http://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/08/the-murray-ge...
ams6110 9y ago
Losing a parent is a shock, especially when it happens in an unexpected manner like this, but it's something everyone faces and most people don't take extended leaves from work as a result.
- drzaiusapelord 9y ago
  I suspect this forum is mostly teens and twenty somethings. We all lose a parent(s). It happened to me and it'll happen to you. It happens all the time with your coworkers, you just don't notice it. People don't take a year off to 'find themselves' after losing a parent. They suddenly have a funeral to plan (and pay for) and then get back to their jobs. That's life. Also, if you want to get into boating, don't let an animal onto your boat. This accident happened because the family dog stepped in between mom and dad switching passenger/driver positions.
  - unethical_ban 9y ago
    People who have to work to maintain housing and a family don't take a year off after losing someone close. If you have the money and the ability, and the pain is hard enough, why would it be unreasonable to take time off? I haven't lost a parent yet, but I would probably want more than a weekend to grieve.
    - braveo 9y ago
      it's not unreasonable, but it's also unrelated to a lot of the issues Uber is coming under fire for.
- kingnothing 9y ago
  Having unexpectedly lost a parent myself, and worked with others who have been through similar circumstances, it is absolutely accepted and expected to take at least a week off, probably longer, if you work for a reasonable company with a reasonable manager. It's one of the most difficult things most people will experience in life. That amount of time is barely enough to get over the initial shock before you half heartedly return to work while beginning to deal with probate, attorneys, settling the estate, and trying to work through your emotions.
Florin_Andrei 9y ago
When it rains, it pours.
- driverdan 9y ago
  Except when it doesn't. That saying is just confirmation bias.
scott_karana 9y ago
While I sympathize with him for his loss, and think he deserves a leave, this critical part of the leave has nothing to do with bereavement: > Upon Kalanick’s return, Uber will strip him of some duties and appoint an independent chair to limit his influence, according to an advance copy of a report prepared for the board.

That was the consensus yesterday too.

Yeah. His mom died and his dad was severely injured in a boating accident. Very curious there is no mention of that. Edit: They actually mention it at the end of the article http://fortune.com/2017/06/02/uber-ceo-parents-tribute-boating-accident/ http://fortune.com/2017/06/02/uber-ceo-parents-tribute-boati...

TarpitCarnivore 9y ago
Right near the end of the article it says: > Kalanick decided to take a leave while also coping with the death of his mother, whose funeral he attended Friday.
- kevindqc 9y ago
  Ah thanks, I missed that sentence.
lyonlim 9y ago
The newscaster did mention that he hasn't been at work since the incident, spending time instead with his dad. It's a challenging time for anyone going through this, even if he's overseen some questionable things at his company.
- HenryBemis 9y ago
  I may dislike Uber, and Travis, and the worldwide practices of the firm, BUT a tragic loss is a tragic loss. I hope his father recovers completely and that together they will manage to cope with the lose of a Mother and Wife. (same goes to all who have lost a loved one irrespective of how they run their business)
jfktrey 9y ago
It's simple. It doesn't fit in with the rest of the defamatory narrative they were just itching to write for the rest of the article. Either that, or they simply didn't know. But I find the latter hard to believe. Even if that detail was missed, it's very poor journalism to not find the full story.

samfisher83 9y ago

Based on this quote: "If we are going to work on Uber 2.0, I also need to work on Travis 2.0 to become the leader that this company needs and that you deserve," Kalanick wrote in an email obtained by BuzzFeed News. "During the interim period, the leadership team, my directs, will be running the company." It appears he is leaving more due to the issues with uber then him mom dying, but I am sure it contributed.

koolba 9y ago
If this were a book or movie, a significant life event like either of those (or both) would be the natural opening of a new arc.
lhorie 9y ago
You're quoting out of context. The first line of the email explicitly says he's taking time off to grieve, reflect and work on himself, in that order (he also enumerates "focus on building a leadership team" as a reason, though I'm not really sure how that is supposed to be done when one's taking time off) The second paragraph (the one you quoted) is a tie-in to the third paragraph, where he says what's going to happen in terms of leadership during this interim period.

zoomzippity 9y ago

Buried at the very very bottom of the article as a footnote. Glossing over the tragedy of unexpectedly losing one's mother and almost losing One's father. The media reporting on Uber absolutely disgusts me and demonstrates a culture far more toxic than anything I've heard about Uber. My bet is that the media doesn't make public any email from Travis about this because it will likely show how the media is grossly misrepresenting things. FWIW How people read online: why you won't finish this article. http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2013/06/how_people_read_online_why_you_won_t_finish_this_article.html http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2013/06/...

bjl 9y ago
So Greyball was fake? How about their Hell program? Or the fact that one of their executives illegally acquired a rape victims medical reports and circulated them around the office? Uber has continuously demonstrated a total disregard for both the law and common decency. They lost the benefit of the doubt a long time ago.
- wavefunction 9y ago
  Kalanick was aware and had seen the rape victim's health records and apparently it was an attempt (by Emil?) to figure out how to discredit the victim and her accusations. These are horrific people and while I sympathize with Kalanick over the loss of his mother and his father's situation, I do not wish him any professional success.
  - mst 9y ago
    My position here is "I am entirely capable of hating Kalanick and the reporting about Kalanick at the same time".
jboggan 9y ago
I'm reminded of the Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect - how we are constantly surprised when the media gets crucial details (which we are personally familiar with) so very wrong in their reporting. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/08/the-murray-gell-mann-amnesia-effect/ http://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/08/the-murray-ge...

ams6110 9y ago

Losing a parent is a shock, especially when it happens in an unexpected manner like this, but it's something everyone faces and most people don't take extended leaves from work as a result.

drzaiusapelord 9y ago
I suspect this forum is mostly teens and twenty somethings. We all lose a parent(s). It happened to me and it'll happen to you. It happens all the time with your coworkers, you just don't notice it. People don't take a year off to 'find themselves' after losing a parent. They suddenly have a funeral to plan (and pay for) and then get back to their jobs. That's life. Also, if you want to get into boating, don't let an animal onto your boat. This accident happened because the family dog stepped in between mom and dad switching passenger/driver positions.
- unethical_ban 9y ago
  People who have to work to maintain housing and a family don't take a year off after losing someone close. If you have the money and the ability, and the pain is hard enough, why would it be unreasonable to take time off? I haven't lost a parent yet, but I would probably want more than a weekend to grieve.
  - braveo 9y ago
    it's not unreasonable, but it's also unrelated to a lot of the issues Uber is coming under fire for.
kingnothing 9y ago
Having unexpectedly lost a parent myself, and worked with others who have been through similar circumstances, it is absolutely accepted and expected to take at least a week off, probably longer, if you work for a reasonable company with a reasonable manager. It's one of the most difficult things most people will experience in life. That amount of time is barely enough to get over the initial shock before you half heartedly return to work while beginning to deal with probate, attorneys, settling the estate, and trying to work through your emotions.

Florin_Andrei 9y ago

When it rains, it pours.

driverdan 9y ago
Except when it doesn't. That saying is just confirmation bias.

scott_karana 9y ago

While I sympathize with him for his loss, and think he deserves a leave, this critical part of the leave has nothing to do with bereavement: > Upon Kalanick’s return, Uber will strip him of some duties and appoint an independent chair to limit his influence, according to an advance copy of a report prepared for the board.