I got on twitter to see if I could find video/pictures. They have quite a crowd! Also, there's video of the employees leaving the building, and it gave me goosebumps. WTG employees!
I got on twitter to see if I could find video/pictures. They have quite a crowd! Also, there's video of the employees leaving the building, and it gave me goosebumps. WTG employees!
It’s a pretty big crowd for mid-afternoon on a weekday! I’m very impressed.
Wayfair letter to employees pledges $100k to the American Red Cross From CNN's Cristine Alesci
In a letter to employees, Wayfair cofounders Steve Conine and Niraj Shah said the company will donate $100k to support the American Red Cross “in their effort to help those in dire need of basic necessities at the border.”
“We believe strongly in the political process in our country and the power of individuals engaging in it to create change,” the cofounders said in the letter.
The company didn’t say whether the funds for the donation come from the proceeds or profits as a result of bedroom furniture sales for use in migrant facilities, but the donation comes on the heels of intense backlash from employees and lawmakers.
Wayfair declined CNN’s request for comment.
CNN obtained a copy of the letter:
Hello Team --
I want to further follow up on the conversations I've had with many of you over the last day.
As many of you know, Niraj and I care a great deal about humanitarian issues. We agree that there is a crisis at the border and people there are in need. Wayfair has provided millions of dollars to support a variety of charities, including Habitat for Humanity, Homes for our Troops and the many charities that you all choose to support through our matching program. As we have responded in the past to natural disasters and other urgent needs for humanitarian relief (ie. Hurricane Florence, CA wildfires, etc.), we will make a donation of $100,000 to support the American Red Cross in their effort to help those in dire need of basic necessities at the border.
We believe strongly in the political process in our country and the power of individuals engaging in it to create change. As we enter the next election cycle, the ability for everyone to contribute their views and be politically engaged is even more important.
We respect the passion of all our employees on this issue and look forward to continuing our dialogue with you
Is the red cross active in helping the people at the border? I honestly don't know.
Didn't the employees request they donate to RAICES? Red Cross seems a bit like a cop out to me.
According to Twitter they are not actively helping and it is a cop out.
I think this is right. They have absolutely no info available about any border efforts and there are a number of articles from 2018 criticizing them for lack of response. Even if they were helping with humanitarian aid at the border, that is a separate (although related) issue to the detention centers themselves.
it's like they picked the most benign charity they could think of. This is not hurricane relief, this is a humanitarian crisis that cannot be solved by passing out water and blankets and whatnot. The Red Cross can't even GET to these people. No charity really can. What they need are lawyers.
Yep donating to the Red Cross is completely missing the point. I know many people who work there and am SO proud of them. This is a PR nightmare for wayfair.
I have to wonder if this was deliberate as in "we won't donate to RAICES" or if they're too stupid to have done any homework or listened to their employees to understand that the Red Cross doesn't have any impact on what's going on. And the fact that I haven't seen a news story point that out is infuriating.
Apparently there’s leaked audio on twitter from the company meeting yesterday where a c level exec said something along the lines of they couldn’t take a stand because it would be unfair to employees with the opposite view. I can’t listen right now so not sure if my summary is 100% correct.
I do wonder what happens tomorrow. I don’t think there’s been any budging by the company yet.
Apparently there’s leaked audio on twitter from the company meeting yesterday where a c level exec said something along the lines of they couldn’t take a stand because it would be unfair to employees with the opposite view. I can’t listen right now so not sure if my summary is 100% correct.
I do wonder what happens tomorrow. I don’t think there’s been any budging by the company yet.
Yes must not offend THOSE employees 🙄. The ones that are perfectly fine with people suffering in these camps.
The employees requested that profits be donated to RAICES. They help with the legal effort of getting those detained out and assisting with asylum, which is really the best thing any organization can do right now, IMO.
Apparently there’s leaked audio on twitter from the company meeting yesterday where a c level exec said something along the lines of they couldn’t take a stand because it would be unfair to employees with the opposite view. I can’t listen right now so not sure if my summary is 100% correct.
I do wonder what happens tomorrow. I don’t think there’s been any budging by the company yet.
Yes must not offend THOSE employees 🙄. The ones that are perfectly fine with people suffering in these camps.