Microsoft Born Again — Ho Hum
I saved these excerpts weeks ago, from a letter that Microsoft President Steve Ballmer wrote to his employees, and released publically by Microsoft, about the debacle and outcry following the company's disastrous decision to withdraw support from gay-equality legislation in Washington. I thought I would have incisive commentary, but I've found that, even faster than I predicted it would happen, I've lost interest in cheering the evil giant now that they've awakened and re-decided to do the right thing.
I did like the exceptionally wordy way in which Ballmer translated "I really fucked up": "There was a lot of confusion and miscommunication, and we are taking steps to improve our processes going forward." Maybe he found the Anglo-Saxon just too earthy. Note, too, the clever reliance on the passive voice to suggest that other people had been "confused" and thus "miscommunicated".
Text of Steve Ballmer E-Mail to U.S. Microsoft Employees Regarding Public Policy Engagement
REDMOND, Wash. — May 6, 2005 — In response to widespread public interest in the company's position on anti-discrimination legislation, Microsoft Corp. today released the following text of an e-mail sent today from Steve Ballmer, CEO, to all Microsoft employees in the United States:
During the past two weeks I’ve heard from many of you with a wide range of views on the recent anti-discrimination bill in Washington State, and the larger issue of what is the appropriate role of a public corporation in public policy discussions. This input has reminded me again of what makes our company unique and why I care about it so much.One point really stood out in all the e-mails you sent me. Regardless of where people came down on the issues, everyone expressed strong support for the company’s commitment to diversity. To me, that’s so critical. Our success depends on having a workforce that is as diverse as our customers – and on working together in a way that taps all of that diversity.
I don’t want to rehash the events that resulted in Microsoft [sic*] taking a neutral position on the anti-discrimination bill in Washington State. There was a lot of confusion and miscommunication, and we are taking steps to improve our processes going forward.
[…]
After looking at the question from all sides, I’ve concluded that diversity in the workplace is such an important issue for our business that it should be included in our legislative agenda. […]Accordingly, Microsoft will continue to join other leading companies in supporting federal legislation that would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation — adding sexual orientation to the existing law that already covers race, sex, national origin, religion, age and disability. Given the importance of diversity to our business, it is appropriate for the company to endorse legislation that prohibits employment discrimination on all of these grounds.
[…]
I’m adamant that we must do an even better job of pursuing diversity and mutual respect within Microsoft. I expect everyone at this company — particularly managers — to take a hard look at their personal commitment to diversity, and redouble that commitment. […]
———-
* Continuing on my "Support the Gerundive" crusade, what he really intended to say was "… the events that resulted in Microsoft's taking a neutral position …". Gerundives always take a possesive. Always.