I just watched the KPMG boss video and honestly I feel it can be interpreted in different ways. You can tell when a person says something to intentionally hurt you and when they can’t just fathom the implications based on how people interpret it. As we learn to work in an increasingly diversity focused environment I pray there’s room for forgiveness. Mind you I am a person of color. I believe in second chances and I don’t think he should have lost his job. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9253165/KPMG-boss-QUITS-video-showed-telling-paid-staff-lucky.html
Chief
Agreed with your perspective, but nothing about the trend of the last few years suggests the rates of forgiveness in the air are going up
Idk - it’s not like he’s being sent to prison. Can you imagine if Dan Helfrich came out and said something like this? The backlash from employees would be tremendous; easily enough for him to have to step down.
Senior leaders have a big responsibility- their actions are amplified through an organization. If a manager said what he did, no one raises an eyebrow, but having a senior role comes with the expectation that you understand you are held to a much different standard.
Chief
You think this wasn’t his second or third or hundredth chance? The man is 30+ years into his career. All this didn’t come from nowhere.
@D1 I agree with you 100% as a future state ideal, but the reality is that when many current partners were rising in the ranks, D&I was not prioritized at best and neglected at worst. The cynic in me is unsure if it’s possible to teach all these older partners the value of diversity so late in their careers. What worries me more is the belief in reverse racism/sexism among younger people, for ex. lots of people on this app complain constantly about “PC culture” and “diversity targets”. They probably identify with this dude and think this is just another example of how society is stacked against them. It’s these younger individuals that I worry most about, because they have the potential to cause a lot of harm to marginalized groups as they advance.
Chief
Cancel culture suggests that people are being called out for ONE mistake.
This guy had to exhibited a pattern, rising to the moniker of office 'Donald Trump'. To get there, multiple HR staff would have been involved, and only his high position allowed him such leeway.
So let's not bemoan this as some over reaction. The man knew what he was doing wasn't cool, and kept doing it, over and over.
I don’t get the big deal. He’s just saying that you need to take action instead of complaining, which is the truth, albeit a harsh one. Don’t see why he was fired over this.
Rising Star
As a US KPMG employee, I seriously cannot understand why he was fired. This video makes sense and would be the same thing I would tell my children if I was his age or what I would expect my dad to give me
100% agree!
If he were a motivational speaker he would be applauded. It’s a time and place issue.
Or a comedian. Some of the realest topics are discussed in comedy. That you laugh at at first then it sinks in and you’re like “damn, that’s real” lol
It’s a pathetic world where people love to complain but can’t handle the truth
Perhaps he could have used different choice of words. Perhaps leaders should focus more on learning to use appropriate wordings when speaking to people in a diverse organization. Anyone can be this guy tomorrow no matter how smart the person is.
More proof of how toxic cancel culture is. Funny how we point the finger at the former Soviet Union and at China when they censor free speech- but we permit angry woke mobs to assassinate a person’s character or get them sacked the moment they say some “hurtful words”
VP1- I agree that the implications are different and that things can get much worse in authoritarian regimes.
But the parallels I’m drawing is that when someone gets “canceled” - there is often a kangaroo court formed by popular opinion, the measure of the infraction is often very subjective, and the path to redemption or forgiveness is almost inexistant.
Sure, this guy from KPMG probably had it coming, but surely there could have been another way to yank him out of power instead of shaming him online and not giving him a chance to clear his name?
What if the same standards start getting applied to all of us and we start risking our neck every time we share a personal opinion that can be misconstrued?
D3 - The fact that you paint everyone who disagrees with you as “not having sufficient understanding” without advancing an argument shows how ignorant you actually are.
Cancel culture rules! Hopefully none of you ever share an honest opinion at work...
Someone at that level should be more self aware. Stop making excuses.
This article and the way the video was cut is a mess. Is this about unconscious bias or not getting upset over a pandemic? Is he saying that unconscious bias training only works if you care? Or that you have to work harder if you care?
It’s either ignorant or motivational but I can’t really tell lol.
“The Donald Trump of KPMG” lol
There’s no such thing as cancel culture. Most of these guys land on their feet with the same or better gigs. Cancel culture is a smart way of branding “accountability for one’s actions” as a way to undermine simple consequences of bad choices
Rising Star
Agree, unless there is more to his history or pattern of behavior, this alone isn’t something that should result in losing a job. I understand it’s his responsibility to not end up in the news for something he said, but you could also argue what he said shouldn’t be newsworthy.
Sometimes it’s not what you say but how you say it
Everyone deserves a mulligan
This is hilarious
The DM think KPMG are a “top firm”
I watched the video. I think his comments were inappropriate and not the right message or environment for employees during a pandemic, but I don’t think they are in themselves a firing offence. I guess this builds on other instances in order for him to be moved out? Not familiar with the full context.