4 ms·
I would keep politics out of your business. You'll offend 50% of your potential client base and 50% of your employees (potentially) if you bring politics in to
by saluki 8y ago
I would keep politics out of your business.
You'll offend 50% of your potential client base and 50% of your employees (potentially) if you bring politics in to the picture.
I wouldn't allow employees to dictate business decisions like that, and would look at quietly letting go the ones who are threatening to quit.
Also look at what information your employees have access to, I would minimize discussions and employee access to who your signups are and minimize their access to how they are using the app. Make client privacy a priority.
37signals cat.jpg story:
https://signalvnoise.com/posts/3078-trust-is-fragile https://signalvnoise.com/posts/3078-trust-is-fragile
And security as well. Make sure employees with access to the database are trustworthy and aren't going to take extreme measures against clients they don't agree with.
Avoiding groups that are promoting hate and criminal activities is understandable.
Now is a good time to improve your ToS to outline reasons why you might suspend or terminate a users account.
And would definitely consult an attorney as to how to go about informing clients you don't want their business if you decide to go that route.
Good luck, congrats on the growth, update us how this shakes out.
- mc32 8y agoI agree. Keep politics out of your business. Doing otherwise is a potential hornet’s nest. If they are doing illegal business then sure, deny service on those grounds and possibly report to authorities, if applicable. In politics you’re not going to please everyone, even those on your side, they’ll potentially ask for more “activism”. So, if it were me, I’d keep politics and business sepatate.
- Mountain_Skies 8y agoUnfortunately you don't always have the choice of keeping politics out. Activists that discover you are doing business with a company or group they disapprove of can publicize this fact, organize boycotts against you, harass your other customers, bully your employees and do everything in their power to make you go out of business if you don't cut ties with the customer which they disapprove.
- CM30 8y agoThe best solution for that is to still keep politics out and ignore the complainers. They only have any power at all because companies and organisations listen to them. The more people ignore angry Twitter mobs, the quicker said Twitter mobs become ineffective and people realise screaming at anything that offends them won't get them their way.
- sbinthree 8y agoAgreed with this. Was involved in big platform company who handled it this way and it went well. A good way to do it is email the customer and say 1. You disagree with them 2. You respect their rights and will allow them to legally use your service 3. Tell employeesb and customer that you'll donate the money to Planned Parenthood, etc.
- cosmiccartel 8y agoThis sounds like the worst of both worlds. Vehemently pro-choice employees are unlikely to be placated, and pro-lifers are going to boycott the company anyway.