10 ms·

Uber executive resigns following probe into racial discrimination

85 points by jbegley 8y ago

sidcool 8y ago
There definitely is scope of further resignations on sexual harassment charges as well.
- drb91 8y ago
  What makes you say that?
  - sidcool 8y ago
    Uber has a well recorded history of sexual harassment claims that were not heeded by their HR. Susan Fowler's article brought it to light.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
jonny_eh 8y ago
What were the complaints?
- esturk 8y ago
  The article implies it has to do with the racial discrimination at people of color.
- tert45ty54wy 8y ago
  From the article: "They alleged Hornsey had used discriminatory language and made derogatory comments about Uber Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion Bernard Coleman, and had denigrated and threatened former Uber executive Bozoma Saint John, who left the company in June." "Some of the allegations were substantiated, investigators from law firm Gibson Dunn told the employees in a May 15 email that was seen by Reuters."
  - jonny_eh 8y ago
    I was hoping for more details than that. Hard to draw my own conclusions based only on what was reported in the article.
danso 8y ago
This HR exec started in January 2017, and Susan Fowler’s bombshell blog post was Feb. 2017. It sounded like the culture had a signficant turnaround not just because of the public scrutiny, but Khosrowshahi‘s new leadership. The HR Director can’t claim to have been caught off-guard by the internal culture changes.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- rrix2 8y ago
  people had forgotten that Liane was hired by Travis, before the shit hit the fan, I guess.[1] [1]: http://www.businessinsider.com/ex-google-softbank-liane-hornsey-to-join-uber-as-chief-hr-officer-2016-11 http://www.businessinsider.com/ex-google-softbank-liane-horn...
  - kevintb 8y ago
    Yes, it’s surprising people have forgotten this. Her comments about Fowler immediately after she left were also extremely suspect at best.
tmh79 8y ago
Disclaimer: I work at U Liane was beloved at Uber. I cannot speak to any issues of racial discrimination, but I definitely felt that Lianne was one of the "good" folks at the company, and I am very surprised and dissapointed by this news.
- jhowell 8y ago
  Seems that she disagrees with you.
- rrix2 8y ago
  There are those of us who are happy with the new leadership in general who were not fans of her. That's not a conversation I'm having on a public forum, though.
  - creddit 8y ago
    Then why mention it at all? If you're not willing to back up such a statement like that with any kind of reasoning and state so explicitly, why bother telling anyone? This is a forum; implying a place for discussion. If you don't intend to do that, refraining from such provocative but unsubstantiated additions is more positive.
    - rrix2 8y ago
      If the person who works at uber wants to know more they know how to get in contact with me, I use my real name here and I’m not about to get fired for providing at least a hint that not everyone was hoodwinked by her. Also, if you think my hedging here is paranoid: https://www.pcgamer.com/amp/guild-wars-2-writers-fired-following-heated-twitter-exchange-with-streamer/ https://www.pcgamer.com/amp/guild-wars-2-writers-fired-follo...
      - creddit 8y ago
        And as a privacy engineer you're unaware of anyway to maintain your privacy and remain anonymous in order to provide constructive additions to the conversation? You don't fear firing due to stating your dislike of the former exec but fear what might happen if you explain that dislike???
axaxs 8y ago
This isn't surprising. Every company I've worked for, HR seemed out to protect the company only and try to quiet/bury complaints. It's a well known mantra not to ever talk to HR, sad as it's become...
- coderdude 8y ago
  It's called human resources. It exists to manage humans as a resource. The idea that it exists to benefit you comes from having human in the name. It's like a farm having a department called cow resources.
- philpem 8y ago
  "Milkshake Duck is a valued and respected member of the organisation and has been here many years..."
- lhorie 8y ago
  The timeline in the article says that allegations were made against her about racial discrimination, and then she left the company (with all parties declining to comment). Isn't this sort of the opposite situation from your run-of-the-mill evil/apathetic HR dept stories where the victims get the short end of the stick?
  - axaxs 8y ago
    That part was a little unclear to me...but it seems to be both against her directly and against her dismissing complaints more broadly via the anonymous tip line. Apologies if I misunderstood!
- jiveturkey 8y ago
  > HR seemed out to protect the company well, that is their job ... > This isn't surprising. Not sure how those two statements go together. HR's job is to protect the company from HR-related issues, like claims of discrimination. When the head of HR is herself embroiled in a discrimination inquiry, it shouldn't be a surprise that she is asked to leave.
danmaz74 8y ago
I'm curious about what do they mean when they talk about dismissing complaints. They mean that the complaints weren't investigated at all, or that action wasn't taken after an investigation?
- supreme_sublime 8y ago
  It is interesting, it seems like the default position is "Every complaint is legitimate". There are no specifics given so we're left to speculate and land wherever our own bias tends to lean.
randyrand 8y ago
It doesn’t sound like this is about racial discrimination. It sounds like it’s more about her saying things about diversity that others didnt like. Not really the same thing IMO.
- amaccuish 8y ago
  > It doesn’t sound like this is about racial discrimination. Hmm, I didn't get that from the linked article. Care to substantiate?
- dm3730 8y ago
  > It sounds like it’s more about her saying things about diversity that others didnt like. Where in the article does that "sounds like" come from?
- tert45ty54wy 8y ago
  The article doesn't say Hornsey criticized the idea of diversity. It says she is alleged to have used discriminatory language, and made derogatory comments to a coworker. So very much about discrimination.
ranvan 8y ago
I am a passionate about aerial videography & have been in the game since 2012. I love the Phantom but often get frustrated with the remote controller limitations. However, recently with the introduction of autopilot capabilities the Phantom is now capable of amazing cinematic pro shots. I have spent a lot of time figuring out autopilot shots and created this course to share my techniques with you. I really hope your videography gets taken to the next level with this course. https://reviewsdash.net/best-fishing-drones https://reviewsdash.net/best-fishing-drones
segmondy 8y ago
I believe the catalyst for this was Bozoma Saint John leaving. Once I saw her announce her departure on twitter, I thought to myself, "WTF happened? Isn't this too soon? She just joined" Her ton of having to take a break and travel the world also hinted it wasn't mutual or a happy situation. I won't be surprised that reports started probing, asking questions and Uber had to clean up before they ended up heavily on the news again.

85 points by jbegley 8y ago

sidcool 8y ago

There definitely is scope of further resignations on sexual harassment charges as well.

drb91 8y ago
What makes you say that?
- sidcool 8y ago
  Uber has a well recorded history of sexual harassment claims that were not heeded by their HR. Susan Fowler's article brought it to light.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

jonny_eh 8y ago

What were the complaints?

esturk 8y ago
The article implies it has to do with the racial discrimination at people of color.
tert45ty54wy 8y ago
From the article: "They alleged Hornsey had used discriminatory language and made derogatory comments about Uber Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion Bernard Coleman, and had denigrated and threatened former Uber executive Bozoma Saint John, who left the company in June." "Some of the allegations were substantiated, investigators from law firm Gibson Dunn told the employees in a May 15 email that was seen by Reuters."
- jonny_eh 8y ago
  I was hoping for more details than that. Hard to draw my own conclusions based only on what was reported in the article.

danso 8y ago

This HR exec started in January 2017, and Susan Fowler’s bombshell blog post was Feb. 2017. It sounded like the culture had a signficant turnaround not just because of the public scrutiny, but Khosrowshahi‘s new leadership. The HR Director can’t claim to have been caught off-guard by the internal culture changes.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
rrix2 8y ago
people had forgotten that Liane was hired by Travis, before the shit hit the fan, I guess.[1] [1]: http://www.businessinsider.com/ex-google-softbank-liane-hornsey-to-join-uber-as-chief-hr-officer-2016-11 http://www.businessinsider.com/ex-google-softbank-liane-horn...
- kevintb 8y ago
  Yes, it’s surprising people have forgotten this. Her comments about Fowler immediately after she left were also extremely suspect at best.

tmh79 8y ago

Disclaimer: I work at U Liane was beloved at Uber. I cannot speak to any issues of racial discrimination, but I definitely felt that Lianne was one of the "good" folks at the company, and I am very surprised and dissapointed by this news.

jhowell 8y ago
Seems that she disagrees with you.
rrix2 8y ago
There are those of us who are happy with the new leadership in general who were not fans of her. That's not a conversation I'm having on a public forum, though.
- creddit 8y ago
  Then why mention it at all? If you're not willing to back up such a statement like that with any kind of reasoning and state so explicitly, why bother telling anyone? This is a forum; implying a place for discussion. If you don't intend to do that, refraining from such provocative but unsubstantiated additions is more positive.
  - rrix2 8y ago
    If the person who works at uber wants to know more they know how to get in contact with me, I use my real name here and I’m not about to get fired for providing at least a hint that not everyone was hoodwinked by her. Also, if you think my hedging here is paranoid: https://www.pcgamer.com/amp/guild-wars-2-writers-fired-following-heated-twitter-exchange-with-streamer/ https://www.pcgamer.com/amp/guild-wars-2-writers-fired-follo...
    - creddit 8y ago
      And as a privacy engineer you're unaware of anyway to maintain your privacy and remain anonymous in order to provide constructive additions to the conversation? You don't fear firing due to stating your dislike of the former exec but fear what might happen if you explain that dislike???

axaxs 8y ago

This isn't surprising. Every company I've worked for, HR seemed out to protect the company only and try to quiet/bury complaints. It's a well known mantra not to ever talk to HR, sad as it's become...

coderdude 8y ago
It's called human resources. It exists to manage humans as a resource. The idea that it exists to benefit you comes from having human in the name. It's like a farm having a department called cow resources.
philpem 8y ago
"Milkshake Duck is a valued and respected member of the organisation and has been here many years..."
lhorie 8y ago
The timeline in the article says that allegations were made against her about racial discrimination, and then she left the company (with all parties declining to comment). Isn't this sort of the opposite situation from your run-of-the-mill evil/apathetic HR dept stories where the victims get the short end of the stick?
- axaxs 8y ago
  That part was a little unclear to me...but it seems to be both against her directly and against her dismissing complaints more broadly via the anonymous tip line. Apologies if I misunderstood!
jiveturkey 8y ago
> HR seemed out to protect the company well, that is their job ... > This isn't surprising. Not sure how those two statements go together. HR's job is to protect the company from HR-related issues, like claims of discrimination. When the head of HR is herself embroiled in a discrimination inquiry, it shouldn't be a surprise that she is asked to leave.

danmaz74 8y ago

I'm curious about what do they mean when they talk about dismissing complaints. They mean that the complaints weren't investigated at all, or that action wasn't taken after an investigation?

supreme_sublime 8y ago
It is interesting, it seems like the default position is "Every complaint is legitimate". There are no specifics given so we're left to speculate and land wherever our own bias tends to lean.

randyrand 8y ago

It doesn’t sound like this is about racial discrimination. It sounds like it’s more about her saying things about diversity that others didnt like. Not really the same thing IMO.

amaccuish 8y ago
> It doesn’t sound like this is about racial discrimination. Hmm, I didn't get that from the linked article. Care to substantiate?
dm3730 8y ago
> It sounds like it’s more about her saying things about diversity that others didnt like. Where in the article does that "sounds like" come from?
tert45ty54wy 8y ago
The article doesn't say Hornsey criticized the idea of diversity. It says she is alleged to have used discriminatory language, and made derogatory comments to a coworker. So very much about discrimination.

ranvan 8y ago

I am a passionate about aerial videography & have been in the game since 2012. I love the Phantom but often get frustrated with the remote controller limitations. However, recently with the introduction of autopilot capabilities the Phantom is now capable of amazing cinematic pro shots. I have spent a lot of time figuring out autopilot shots and created this course to share my techniques with you. I really hope your videography gets taken to the next level with this course. https://reviewsdash.net/best-fishing-drones https://reviewsdash.net/best-fishing-drones

segmondy 8y ago

I believe the catalyst for this was Bozoma Saint John leaving. Once I saw her announce her departure on twitter, I thought to myself, "WTF happened? Isn't this too soon? She just joined" Her ton of having to take a break and travel the world also hinted it wasn't mutual or a happy situation. I won't be surprised that reports started probing, asking questions and Uber had to clean up before they ended up heavily on the news again.