Sixty Coinbase employees take buyout offer after no politics at work rule

[kryptqnick]

So a few weeks ago Brian Armstrong, CEO of CoinBase put out a "no politics at work memo"
If you did not like it you could take a 4 to 6 month buyout and leave. As of now it looks like 60+ people or 5% +/- a bit of their workforce took it.

I think it's good. Work is for work, politics is for the bar after work so to speak.

But, it's a slippery slope. After no politics do you ban the Star Wars vs. Star Trek discussions. Ford vs Dodge? IPA vs Dark Beer?

Some articles:
https://www.coindesk.com/coinbase-dan-yoo
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/10/sixty-coinbase-employees-take-buyout-offer-over-no-politics-rule/

-Dave

I think that banning discussions is a violation of freedom of speech. Politics matters to many people, and they have a right to talk about it with their colleagues, just like about anything else they find appropriate. Not to mention that politics is a very broad notion. Talking about parties and definitely politics. But how about human rights violations? Or discrimination? Or even about certain values like tolerance? Some might argue that supporting cryptos due to appreciating decentralization is also politics (and it is, truly, grounded on some political ideas). So the rule will not be easy to enforce, I'm sure there'll be disputed cases. And I'm not surprised some chose to leave.

[hatshepsut93]

Absolutely. I would imagine there are a fair few people who are interested for working for crypto companies for the same reason a fair few people here are interested in bitcoin in the first place - being sick of the failure of traditional monetary systems, and how they only work to enrich themselves at the expense of everybody else. Perhaps they saw a career in crypto as an opportunity to help address injustice and inequality. And then they see Coinbase partner with Hacker Team (who have already been selling their software to dictators and war criminals), and working with the US government, and leasing their products to the FBI/CIA/DEA/IRS, and so on. And they see Coinbase slowly turn in to the very thing they got a career in crypto to try to help combat.

Not surprised 5% of their workforce have taken the opportunity to leave. I imagine that if unemployment wasn't at its highest in 80 years, that 5% figure would be far higher.

That incident is what I kept in mind when I was writing my post, and if this policy was created shortly after that, it would be pretty easy to draw connections. But on the other hand elections are really close right now, so maybe this was the cause of it? But either way, for whatever reason this rule is installed now, it can be used as I described in the future, and I think the chance of it isn't that low, considering how immoral Coinbase has always been.

[Ayiranorea]

So a few weeks ago Brian Armstrong, CEO of CoinBase put out a "no politics at work memo"
If you did not like it you could take a 4 to 6 month buyout and leave. As of now it looks like 60+ people or 5% +/- a bit of their workforce took it.

I think it's good. Work is for work, politics is for the bar after work so to speak.

But, it's a slippery slope. After no politics do you ban the Star Wars vs. Star Trek discussions. Ford vs Dodge? IPA vs Dark Beer?

Some articles:
https://www.coindesk.com/coinbase-dan-yoo
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/10/sixty-coinbase-employees-take-buyout-offer-over-no-politics-rule/

-Dave

I think that banning discussions is a violation of freedom of speech. Politics matters to many people, and they have a right to talk about it with their colleagues, just like about anything else they find appropriate. Not to mention that politics is a very broad notion. Talking about parties and definitely politics. But how about human rights violations? Or discrimination? Or even about certain values like tolerance? Some might argue that supporting cryptos due to appreciating decentralization is also politics (and it is, truly, grounded on some political ideas). So the rule will not be easy to enforce, I'm sure there'll be disputed cases. And I'm not surprised some chose to leave.

This is true, it is people's democracy to have the freedom of speech and freedom to express his views. Whether it goes into heated arguments, then surely it has the chance of leading to violence. This will be a disturbance to the workplace. Most of the time political debates come out of work pressure, and the mind needs relaxation. By this time people who like politics and have social responsibility try to put forth their views to feel relaxed. This at times leads to heated arguments and might end up with fights. Here the responsibility needs to be taken by the management and letting people have healthy discussion to make changes in the social life.

[o_e_l_e_o]

But on the other hand elections are really close right now, so maybe this was the cause of it?

As I understand, Brain Armstrong (CEO) was asked on an employee conference call why Coinbase hadn't come out in support of Black Lives Matter and gave a very vague and non-committal answer, which resulted in a bunch of employees immediately logging off the call in protest.

But either way, for whatever reason this rule is installed now, it can be used as I described in the future, and I think the chance of it isn't that low, considering how immoral Coinbase has always been.

Exactly. Speak up about Coinbase aiding agencies who wage war, who suppress rights, who torture, who murder? Now you can be terminated immediately with zero protections.

[suzanne5223]

I understand Armstrong created the new coinbase policy in other avoid distraction or internal division within the company and i was unable to read the policy but I read that it was about some employees promoting anti-racist and gender causes. However, i think there more to the reason why Armstrong create the buyoff strategy.

[tabas]

There is toxicity inside the working place just because of politics. In social media, this often happens when two people don't agree with each other's political views. They tend to ignore each other and just forget the friendship that they've built.
And the same in workplaces, it will affect their productivity and their connection as colleagues. Brian understands this and he doesn't want that to happen under his radar.

[BayAreaCoins]

[Parking_Meater]

Typical bullpoop. Companies do not need a social identity. They are for profit business and any social cause they do is all for show. Also who wants to work in an office or job that people just blast you with what ever political poo they want to talk about. I mean a causal joke among peers is fine but thinking that Mac Cheeseburger actually cares about any cause is shortsighted.

[marlo1001]

Some things works just fine or even better without politics. Financical startups its a good example

[DooMAD]

I would imagine there are a few staff in the 60 who simply saw this as a nice time to take a paid sabbatical.

Exactly.  Or, if you're lucky enough to have a new job lined up quickly, you effectively get a nice big bonus.  I'm sure the timing worked out very fortuitous for some of them.

[avikz]

So a few weeks ago Brian Armstrong, CEO of CoinBase put out a "no politics at work memo"
If you did not like it you could take a 4 to 6 month buyout and leave. As of now it looks like 60+ people or 5% +/- a bit of their workforce took it.

I think it's good. Work is for work, politics is for the bar after work so to speak.

But, it's a slippery slope. After no politics do you ban the Star Wars vs. Star Trek discussions. Ford vs Dodge? IPA vs Dark Beer?

Some articles:
https://www.coindesk.com/coinbase-dan-yoo
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/10/sixty-coinbase-employees-take-buyout-offer-over-no-politics-rule/

-Dave

Excellent step by Coinbase! Even though it wouldn't ensure that the polictics at work will end, but the people will be more cautious about it! Politics at work really ruins the work culture of a company. I have faced similar situations quite a few time in my 10 years of professional career. Welcoming change from the perspective of corporate culture! I hope coinbase will do better as a company!

[TravelMug]

Latest from the Coinbase drama:

Coinbase’s New ‘Direction’ Is Censorship, Leaked Audio Reveals

During the meeting, Armstrong claimed there is a “silent majority” at Coinbase that agreed with his decision but feared reprisal from colleagues. Armstrong and Coinbase leadership, however, failed to soothe fears that this policy would police employees if they voiced opinions that did not align with Armstrong or this “silent majority.”

One former Coinbase employee who left the company after the AMA and to whom Motherboard provided anonymity due to fear of industry reprisal said that these assurances were insufficient and workers feared surveillance and censorship.

These fears are not unfounded. Emile Choi, Coinbase's chief operating officer, explained that at least two employees were asked to delete Slack posts, and that HR head L.J. Brock “proactively reached out to employees to explain why their posts would be taken down. He had a very productive conversation with both of them and they understood the context,” she said.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dpmp8/coinbases-new-direction-is-censorship-leaked-audio-reveals

Is Coinbase getting out of boundaries here by requesting their employees to remove their Slack posts? And this could really be mean censorship or at least employees freedom are suppress with this actions from them?

[MCobian]

I would do the same if I became the CEO of a company, talking about politics at work will only make the atmosphere uncomfortable.
Sometimes without realizing it, political debates will only create noise, and will definitely have an impact on work productivity.
So what the CEO of Coinbase is doing should be copied by the CEOs of other companies. Because talking about politics at work will not
give any benefit to the company. So being professional at work must be done, because we get a salary not to talk about politics.

[btc_angela]

I would do the same if I became the CEO of a company, talking about politics at work will only make the atmosphere uncomfortable.
Sometimes without realizing it, political debates will only create noise, and will definitely have an impact on work productivity.
So what the CEO of Coinbase is doing should be copied by the CEOs of other companies. Because talking about politics at work will not
give any benefit to the company. So being professional at work must be done, because we get a salary not to talk about politics.

I have worked with different American companies and we even have political debates inside and outside of the office space, but it doesn't affect our work productivity. Perhaps people now are really into politics, but if your employer, in this case Coinbase has personally ask you to delete a slack post? I would say wait a minute, that's my personal view and it has nothing to do with our company. I think this is just the start of purging inside Coinbase itself so I wouldn't be surprised if more employees opted out in the next coming months.

[o_e_l_e_o]

Latest from the Coinbase drama

It's not really surprising. When it comes to their customers, Coinbase have always been about invading their privacy, controlling their spending, freezing (censoring) their coins if they do not like where they came from or where they are going to. It's not exactly surprising that such an ethos would spill over on to their employees as well.

The most surprising thing about all of this is just how much of the community is quite happy to lap up Coinbase's completely transparent attempt at an excuse for this, which is entirely to do with their own profits and has absolutely nothing to do with the wider good.

[Yey09]

Politcs could make any job worse. Sometimes its better to avoid it at all

[TravelMug]

Latest from the Coinbase drama

It's not really surprising. When it comes to their customers, Coinbase have always been about invading their privacy, controlling their spending, freezing (censoring) their coins if they do not like where they came from or where they are going to. It's not exactly surprising that such an ethos would spill over on to their employees as well.

Yeah, in other words, controlling freak, that's the way they wanted to do with their employees right now.

The most surprising thing about all of this is just how much of the community is quite happy to lap up Coinbase's completely transparent attempt at an excuse for this, which is entirely to do with their own profits and has absolutely nothing to do with the wider good.

But there could be some on the opposite side of the spectrum, it looks like Coinbase has truly shown their skin, and I'm not surprised that #DeleteCoinbase will be hot again, specially after acquiring Neutrino that angry majority of us, because it spells against the very core value of crypto, which is privacy. Although they may have done some damage control, it's too late and then this. They might be losing customers already.

[Timelord2067]

The easiest analogy is if more than 50% of any given company leaned one way in politics and someone who leaned the other way kept getting turned down for promotions, that user could make a case for bias in the work place for not getting promoted.