Uber CEO To Take Leave, Diminished Role After Workplace Scandals (bloomberg.com)

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick will take a leave of absence from the world's most valuable privately held company, he announced in an email to employees Tuesday. From a report: Uber Chief Executive Officer Travis Kalanick told staff he plans to take a leave of absence, without disclosing a return date. The company will strip him of some duties and appoint an independent chair to limit his influence after a slew of scandals, according to an advance copy of a report prepared for the board. At a staff meeting Tuesday, the company will convey the results of a probe conducted by Eric Holder, the former U.S. attorney general who Uber hired to look into allegations of harassment, discrimination and an aggressive culture. The 47 recommendations include creating a board oversight committee, rewriting Uber's cultural values, reducing alcohol use at work events, and prohibiting intimate relationships between employees and their bosses. Uber's board met Sunday to review a detailed version of the report and voted unanimously to approve the recommendations. Afterward, the San Francisco-based company ousted Emil Michael, Uber's head of business.

Comments

Predictable response

[Anonymous Coward]

As usual, Slashdot readers will reject that there could be harassment or discrimination against women in the workplace. The male-dominated crowd on this site will spin it as somehow being the result of quotas leading to the hiring of unqualified female engineers. It's a predictable response and one that comes out in every story about discrimination and harassment, regardless of the circumstances and the strength of the evidence to support the claims. I'm not sure why these stories get posted any longer because the response is so predictable, just like a broken record.

Re:Predictable response

[computational super]

Actually, it seems as if the most predictable comment on these stories is, "believe the accusers regardless of evidence" like yours.

Re:Predictable response

[Tranzistors]

For some reason some /. users demand forensic evidence where it is not appropriate. Sure, if scientists discover something, asking for the link to the paper is reasonable. But when the news is something like “Mary Elizabeth is expecting a baby”, I bet there will be some asshat that will demand notarized doctor statement or something like that. "Leaks or it didn't happen" is stupid.

Re: Predictable response

[Anonymous Coward]

Wolf, wolf, goddamit there's a wolf!

Re:Predictable response

[interkin3tic]

"Regardless of evidence" such as Uber saying yes, there is sexism here, but there is everywhere else too so why not join?

Evidence like an engineer who worked there saying there was sexism?

Dudes online have an urge to imagine we got where we are based on merit, not gender. When we hear about sexism, that challenges that just world fallacy. The standard operating procedure of dudebros to continue ignoring it is to demand evidence of each specific new accusation, ignoring all the other millions of cases. Then, when evidence is found, we say it's not good enough for the supreme court of dudes opinions online.

FFS all the adults here know silicon valley is run by frat boy types, there's ample evidence if you were paying attention even to just slashdot comments, let alone stories.

Re:Predictable response

[fiannaFailMan]

I agree. At first I thought /. was full of Uber shills, but instead it just seems to be riddled with the same kind of sexist bullshit that I saw in every small or startup company I worked for in the valley.

Re:Predictable response

[beelsebob]

Except that there's a shit ton of evidence in the case of Uber.

Re:Predictable response

[ShanghaiBill]

the same kind of sexist bullshit that I saw in every small or startup company I worked for in the valley.

There is also sexist bullshit outside of SV. I have seen no evidence that sexism is worse in tech than in any other industry. Sexism is a real problem, but it should be addressed as a "human problem" not as a "tech problem".

Re:Predictable response

[cayenne8]

Hell, most of us out here don't care one way or another as long as we get our cheap ride on time.

The stuff like this is for their internal HR to deal with....

Re:Predictable response

[Anonymous Coward]

Those are all literally people saying things. We have no way to verify those things.

I see no mention of the other reason for this sabbatical, either. His mom & dad were in a boating accident and one of them died. That's a pretty good reason to take some time off.

Re:Predictable response

[interkin3tic]

Those are all literally people saying things. We have no way to verify those things.

People who were there say it is so. That should be enough in the absence of evidence to the contrary. Plus, if anyone has stronger evidence, they're in no rush to prove things to you (assuming you're not a judge or arbitration expert on the case). Even if you were open minded and not throwing out evidence already, who would care to demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt to some guy living in his parents' basement that it happened. There have been thousands of examples of sexism in silicon valley. You demand more evidence? Get gender reassignment surgery and go investigate for yourself.

Re:Predictable response

[Penguinisto]

But when the news is something like “Mary Elizabeth is expecting a baby”....

You do know that evidence of this specific hypothesis would begin to present itself in as little as 4-5 months, and irrefutable proof generally arrives in 9, yes?

Then again, I'd wait for the proof if I were you - only a flaming dipshit would be so stupid as to ask a woman with a protruding belly, out-of-the-blue, if she is pregnant, you know?

Re:Predictable response

[serviscope_minor]

but it should be addressed as a "human problem" not as a "tech problem".

All problems are ultimately local. Trying to tackle everything at once is far too big of a problem. And I wouldn't have the first clue how to tackle sexism in other industries because I know very little about them. I work in the tech industry, so I can make decisions to make things better in my little corner of it.

Being a tech site, I imagine most people here are in a similar position.

TL;DR don't get so overwhelmed trying to fix everything that you end up fixing nothing.

Re:Predictable response

[drew_kime]

TL;DR don't get so overwhelmed trying to fix everything that you end up fixing nothing.

That's not a side-effect, that's the goal. If you want to keep a small problem from getting fixed, tell everyone who tries that they should instead focus on the larger problem.

Re:Predictable response

[interkin3tic]

So if you're so convinced that no man deserves any type of success...

Okay buddy...

Re:Predictable response

[interkin3tic]

Wat.

Re:Predictable response

[ckatko]

I was going to write a thought out, in depth reply to you countering your points. But then I came to my senses and realized you're not here to listen or discuss or debate. You're here standing on the same kind of soap box that the people you decry in your post are standing on.

You assume everyone will assume discrimination doesn't exist. You're the same kind of idiot, just pointing the other direction.

Re:Predictable response

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow - you could benefit from writing in a more concise manner and losing the jargon/special terms the rest of us just ignore instead of look up.

Re: Predictable response

[Anonymous Coward]

So, you're a fag ??

Re:Predictable response

[guises]

People who were there say it is so. That should be enough in the absence of evidence to the contrary.

That is not the evidence that you linked. You gave links to an accusation and to an incredibly overblown reaction to a hiring manager commiserating with an applicant (not actually saying anything about sexism at Uber). And "Hearsay should be enough to assume guilt in the absence of evidence to the contrary"? That's what you're going with? "Everybody knows" it must be true, therefore it's true?

If you want to make a blanket statement like, "there's lots of sexism in Silicon Valley," you can maybe get away with that. With no evidence, it may or may not be true but you're (probably) harming no one with your claim so there's little reason to demand a high burden of proof. When you say, "Somebody accused so-and-so of a heinous deed, let's assume their guilt." you're violating one of our basic tenants of justice.

Re:Predictable response

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, this is the first sane and honest comment on sexism I've seen on ./. Thank you, I was getting worried that this place was just a /b/ simile.

Re:Predictable response

[russotto]

And "Hearsay should be enough to assume guilt in the absence of evidence to the contrary"? That's what you're going with?

If it was good enough forJudge William Stoughton, it should be good enough for you.

He'll just pop up somewhere else ....

[BarbaraHudson]

He'll just pop up somewhere else. Probably as an advisor to the Transport secretary in the current White House (mis)administration.

Re:He'll just pop up somewhere else ....

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe he could drag Shrillery's sorry, zombie ass into the medical van for a blood change.

It's time...

[__aaclcg7560]

The 47 recommendations include creating a board oversight committee, rewriting Uber's cultural values, reducing alcohol use at work events, and prohibiting intimate relationships between employees and their bosses.

Time to end being a startup and grow up into a Fortune 500 company. Everyone will attend sensitivity training until that happens.

Translation:

[Anonymous Coward]

We'll hide him until this all blows over, then he'll be back like nothing ever happened.

Or because he mom just died?

[Anonymous Coward]

Funny how this headline reads it because of scandals, but other headlines say its because of his mother passing away in a boating accident. Probably a combination of all of it, but this is a bit ridiculous. He was just put under a microscope for growing too fast, I'm sure there are companies doing the same or worse and will keep on doing it, but they don't make as much money so nobody cares.

Can absolution ever be achieved

[SuperKendall]

I've seen a lot of liberal friends who were throwing a lot of shade Ubers way after the recent news stories about them and harassment. Many of them said they have switched to Left and will never look back.

It made me wonder - what can a company even do for absolution once the mob has decided they are to be punished? I wonder if this latest move will make the slightest dent in support of people who were so angry with Uber before. If it's not possible to repair that relationship then, why even bother to do something like have the CEO step back for damage control? It seems like where we are at a company should just ignore the problem and move on accepting some customer losses and minimizing press from their side with any response.

Myself, I'll continue to use Uber primarily because I have it set up, and I feel like I am helping the drivers more than the company (I always tip Uber drivers now, did not at first).

Also mustaches on cars creep me out. It's not the color, or I wouldn't be a strong T-Mobile supporter...

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[interkin3tic]

You might inform them that Lyft is no better. The claim that democrats are just as bad as republicans some loony liberals spout makes my head hurt, but this is pretty clear: Lyft is not any better.

Also, yes, if Uber lasts more than a few weeks after this and doesn't do more shit, everyone will forget about it. It's been, what, a few hours since this guy stepped down after months of denying he's causing problems?

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[Anonymous Coward]

No, dingus. that was about the *other* controversy with lift. That doesn't cover the harassment charges. Lyft is supposedly a less bad place to work for women.

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[SuperKendall]

Thanks for the article, I find it especially amusing that supporting Lyft (sort of) supports Trump. Going to save that nugget to really press the buttons of a few especially vocal Uber-droppers...

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[GameboyRMH]

Myself, I'll continue to use Uber primarily because I have it set up, and I feel like I am helping the drivers more than the company (I always tip Uber drivers now, did not at first).

Good, you're not helping them if you're not tipping them. An Uber driver would be lucky to break even without tips, if they account for the cost of owning and maintaining their vehicle.

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[SuperKendall]

An Uber driver would be lucky to break even without tips, if they account for the cost of owning and maintaining their vehicle.

That seems very unlikely when you factor in extra income from surge pricing, which all Uber drivers are smart enough to take advantage of.

Even so every bit helps which is why I tip generously.

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[quantaman]

I've seen a lot of liberal friends who were throwing a lot of shade Ubers way after the recent news stories about them and harassment. Many of them said they have switched to Left and will never look back.

It made me wonder - what can a company even do for absolution once the mob has decided they are to be punished?

They need to do the same thing as people need to do, they need to demonstrate that they recognize their prior behaviour is wrong and make a sincere effort to change.

So far their actions only show they're afraid of the consequences of getting caught, which is better, but it also means the moment they feel the scrutiny is off they're likely to revert to their prior behaviour. Hence the tendency for people like myself to assume that there hasn't been a fundamental change.

Completely revamping their workplace culture and respect for the law, that's the real change that's required. Whether Kalanick stays or goes is only relevant to the extent that he's capable of carrying out that change.

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[Anonymous Coward]

If I get awful service at a store, I never go back. There is nothing they can do to change that.

Same here. If I decide a company is morally deficient in a way that hurt people, there is nothing they can do to change it. And if I stop using the service, I don't even have any new experiences with them that come after I decided they were bad, so what chance would they even have?

Only a monopoly would have the opportunity, and in that case they wouldn't bother. Here, taxis already existed.

I guess I'm the only person in the world outside of a government who thinks taxi regulation is already doing a good job and few changes are even needed. Apps that work with multiple taxi companies is about all that is needed, there is no huge need for part time taxi drivers. There is no sane reason why the company that makes the phone app would be the company sending the taxi. There is no sane reason why it isn't simply organized crime since they don't have taxi licenses. They should have been forwarding the service delivery to local taxi companies and getting a cut from the start, but they were greedy and illegal.

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[SuperKendall]

Change the culture.

The head of the company stepped down, which means the culture will change. Culture really originates with top executives.

But that's what I'm really wondering - will that be enough? Should he even have bothered stepping down, if almost no riders who were upset come back? Should they even have bothered to try and fix the culture if they've already had the maximum customer loss they could anyway.

I mean obviously the culture was messed up and from an ethical standpoint it should be fixed. I am talking purely at a strategic level and cost of resources spent trying to fix the culture when no-one will care.

Also, why don't you just ask the drivers? Out of some 20-30 rides I took across the nation a few months ago, I asked every driver whether they've worked for one or both companies, and if so, which one they preferred. Every. Single. Driver. preferred Lyft

I know a lot of drivers prefer Lyft, yet a lot of them still work for Uber. Then the question is why? If I stop using Uber I am punishing those drivers that would prefer to work for Lyft but it doesn't work for them for whatever reason and they need to driver for Uber.

That, and the ACLU donation, is what ultimately made me switch.

I am going to refer back to something you literally just said:

Don't just give lip service and do damage control. It's 2017 and the public is rightfully wary of corporate bullshit.

Guess they aren't wary enough. $1M is pretty cheap to capture a groundswell of Internet Rage and turn it into switching customers. But that is the awesome power of virtue signaling combined with marketing.

The thing I find especially amusing is that supporting Lyft benefits a big Trump supporter. I am pretty sure the venn diagram of people who dislike Uber and people who dislike Trump is almost a complete overlap. Quite a trick to turn disgruntled Uber users into indirect Trump supporters.

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[serviscope_minor]

It made me wonder - what can a company even do for absolution once the mob has decided they are to be punished? I wonder if this latest move will make the slightest dent in support of people who were so angry with Uber before.

I like how you use heavily loaded language ("the mob") there. So of you're not in favour government regulation, and not in favour of people voting with their wallet when they don't like a company's behaviour, what the hell are you in favour of? Rampant,unbridled corporatism?

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[BaronM]

My issue is that 'no tipping - it's included' is one of the major attractions of Uber. I don't mind paying whatever the fair cost of the service is, but don't ask me to rate and pay your employees, too.

To address the inevitable: I recognize reality and tip at restaurants, in cabs, Uber drivers, etc. I JUST DON'T LIKE IT. I was very much attracted to a service that factored lair cost in to the base fare, and took off my list of things to think about.

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[T.E.D.]

It made me wonder - what can a company even do for absolution once the mob has decided they are to be punished?

This is why service industry companies that last have PR departments, and move heaven-and-earth to not appear publicly to be douchebags. The free market is SUPPOSED to be a Darwinian environment where in the long-term better companies survive and crappy ones fail. That means from time to time companies that make crappy choices have to fail. That's how the system works. You shouldn't feel sorry for them, but instead cheer the process on. Your pity is better reserved for those abused by the douchebags in the first place.

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[Anonymous Coward]

The shade is because Kalanick was on Trump's advisory board. If he hadn't accepted that position this wouldn't have had to happen. But, he did, so now we take him down a peg. That's what you get.

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[SuperKendall]

and not in favour of people voting with their wallet

I am fine with that. I'm just sad that hate mobs form so quickly now and try to utterly destroy a target. Like what happened to Giffords, I din't agree with what she did but I thought the internet came down on her too hard... it happens across the political spectrum, not enough people cut anyone else any slack at all now for the slightest of transgressions.

Rampant,unbridled corporatism?

I am the stanchest foe of Corperatism, it's why I could never vote for a Clinton.

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[serviscope_minor]

I am fine with that. I'm just sad that hate mobs form so quickly now and try to utterly destroy a target.

So a bunch of your friends not wanting to do business with a blatantly unethical target is now a hate mob trying to destory that guy personally? I reckon you're way oversensitive.

I am the stanchest foe of Corperatism, it's why I could never vote for a Clinton.

And so you ended up with someone further down that road than Hillary could ever dream of. Great choice!

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[SuperKendall]

So a bunch of your friends not wanting to do business with a blatantly unethical target is now a hate mob trying to destory that guy personally?

Not always, but often, yes.

I reckon you're way oversensitive.

Or you've become inured to so much daily hate, that raw hatred seems to you normal and acceptable - like for instance presenting images of decapitated or stabbed presidents... it is sadly typical of my liberal friends they can see nothing wrong with violence that sends a message they enjoy.

I'm sure you are the same way, more's the pity. And I truly do pity you for being unable to see how you hurt people.

And so you ended up with someone further down that road than Hillary

Trump had almost no corporate sponsors at all; he's beholden to no-one. He's the least compare presidential candidate that we have had in decades - even Obama took huge donations from Goldman Sachs and the like, for which said companies were richly rewarded while he was in office.

Re: Can absolution ever be achieved

[Anonymous Coward]

Kalanick is a douchebag. But you Progressive creeps are mega-douchebags. Check your fuckin' privilege, broham.

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[serviscope_minor]

Not always, but often, yes.

Like I said way oversensitive. You're basically defining whatever you don't agree with as "hate".

Or you've become inured to so much daily hate, that raw hatred seems to you normal and acceptable

I, like your friends, don't use uber. I don't hate Uber, but they're clearly so lacking in the ethics department that I won't use them. You on the other hand seem to hate your friends:

ike for instance presenting images of decapitated or stabbed presidents... it is sadly typical of my liberal friends they can see nothing wrong with violence that sends a message they enjoy.

Why in seven hells are you friends with these people?

Trump had almost no corporate sponsors at all;

Oh gosh you're right. Trump has nothing, nothing at all I say, to do with big business.

Are you actually serious or have you forgotten about the existence of The Trump Organisation? Or in your mind does it simply not count because you hate Hillary and love Trump?

Re:Can absolution ever be achieved

[Anonymous Coward]

This is not one isolated case, the amount of fuckups from Uber is astounding. Between the sexism reports, the unfair treatment of drivers, and the dishonest practices to work around the laws of the countries they operate in, it's legitimate to think that the whole company culture is rotten.

I've got the perfect CEO for you to replace him

[elrous0]

She's a woman, she's experienced at leading a major corporation, and it just so happens that she's just become available.

Re:I've got the perfect CEO for you to replace him

[russotto]

Agreed, that would be perfect. At least for those of us who don't work at Uber and are in it for the lulz.

Re:I've got the perfect CEO for you to replace him

[Bosconian]

Maybe Uber could then transition to a media delivery and content company while creating unused APIs and passing out free plastic headscratchers at industry events. Uberrrr! Yodeleheehooo...

Re:I've got the perfect CEO for you to replace him

[Anonymous Coward]

she better not be blonde

Re:I've got the perfect CEO for you to replace him

[serviscope_minor]

Alright, Mr. armchair CEO, what would *you* have done to fix Yahoo?

Re:I've got the perfect CEO for you to replace him

[Anonymous Coward]

Alright, Mr. armchair CEO, what would *you* have done to fix Yahoo?

Not kill the remote worker program.

Not kill yahoo subgroups that have an active community.

Not take 40 million for tanking company assets.

Not use popup ads.

Not deliver malware infested ads.

Change the anachronistic look and feel.

Not invest massive amounts of company assets on dubious corporate purchases.

Essentially treat profitable enterprises like cooking fish. Find the best and freshest you can and try not to screw it up. Most CEO's take the opposite approach. Change for the sake of change. Policies, procedures, or strategic decisions so they can "make their mark". They create an environment where executives gain control, power, ego, and money. What they should be doing is looking after the company and let their extrinsic motivators follow.

Re:I've got the perfect CEO for you to replace him

[serviscope_minor]

So you wouldn't do a bunch of stuff. Before Marissa Mayer did a bunch of stuff, Yahoo was on a long and not terribly slow decline. Clearly what they were doing wasn't working, but what she did seemed to bump the value up.

Change the anachronistic look and feel.

Literally the only suggestion you've made for stopping the decline is to give the website a bit of a makeover.

I can see why they didn't give you the job.

Re:I've got the perfect CEO for you to replace him

[lgw]

None of that would have helped in the least, and "Change the anachronistic look and feel" would have destroyed what was left. Yahoo will never be relevant again, period. But it has a legacy user base that will be there till they die, or some "designer" chases them off by changing the site.

Her job was to pretty Yahoo up for sale. She did that well - the stock was $15, 5 years ago, and it's $52 now. Investors are happy.

Re:I've got the perfect CEO for you to replace him

[Anonymous Coward]

Look at what happened to Mozilla. Sometimes changes make the decline happen.

The only increase of value that happened was from the recession until 2015, then another decline. Adjusted for what the rest of the market sector was doing, even the most stagnant companies, Yahoo lost relative value. Their market cap today is the same as 2007. That is a huge loss.

If you wish to talk management, business, and investing, a commitment to rational thought and avoiding emotional reactions are necessary for success. You, along with so many others, have forgotten this.

Re:I've got the perfect CEO for you to replace him

[Anonymous Coward]

She's a woman, she's experienced at leading a major corporation, and it just so happens that she's just become available.

Not fair. She likes the challenge of being able to take a decent enough company & drive it into the ground.

Uber's days are already numbered. Where's the challenge in that?

Re:I've got the perfect CEO for you to replace him

[russotto]

Alright, Mr. armchair CEO, what would *you* have done to fix Yahoo?

I have no particular issues with Mayer's performance at Yahoo; as far as I'm concerned, that company probably could not be saved. However, I have heard that she was a difficult person to work for.

Second chances.

[Anonymous Coward]

He's a fuck up but maybe this will be a wake up call for him and the rest of management. If things get fixed and those who were wronged get made whole, then life goes on. Here's hoping He will learn his lesson and move on.

No sense in rooting for a person to fail or face lifetime banishment. Everyone (short of murder or physical assault or child abuse) can get a second chance.

Re:Second chances.

[Anonymous Coward]

Posting AC for mods (Hussman32).

There are a few things that stand out to me:

• Uber is a superior product and they changed the world from relying on a government-subsidized monopoly (with horrific service) to actually allowing people to be able to count on non-personal transportation.
• Attaining that product was done by setting up a highly competitive environment that bypassed all niceties...they hired the best, the best people worked there wanted to work there because of the challenge, and they changed the world.
• They also clearly broke a lot of laws and rules and screwed with people's privacy.
• What I can't figure out is how many of the recent 'scandals' are real (you can't tell your subordinate that she needs to have sex with you), and how much of it is people trying to use diversity as a weapon.

I don't know. I would hope Kalanick gets a severe dose of shakubuku and comes back a better, wiser leader, because he did change the world. Otherwise, we'll probably watch the slow death spiral of Uber.

Re:Second chances.

[squiggleslash]

1. Taxis are not subsidized by the government. They're also rarely actual monopolies - local governments sometimes (but rarely) restrict the number of licensed cabs, but you're still looking at a huge number of operators
2. If you say so.
3. Yup.
4. A culture that encourages law breaking in one area is likely to be rotten from top to bottom. The fact some of the strikes against Uber have to do with concerns relating to discrimination is merely an obvious consequence.

I doubt Kalanick can turn Uber around. Uber isn't making losses because it breaks the law, it's making losses despite breaking the law. The reality is that they're undercutting taxis on price without undercutting them on costs, and taxis aren't exactly a highly profitable industry. That'll probably never change.

Re:Second chances.

[Hussman32]

Re: 1. Correct, 'subsidized' is the wrong word. Manipulated is the correct word, though. Any metropolitan city of reasonable size has a limited number of cabs, and they all suck.
Re: 2. The results speak for themselves. Uber was aggressive, but they connected passengers to drivers reliably, and fought the governments when needed.
Re 4: That you don't know. The people I know that work there are smart, capable, and aggressive. But they are not crooks.

I don't know if he can change or not, we'll see. I hope he can, he had a vision and he executed it; that's something most people can't do.

headline seems wrong...

[aicrules]

shouldn't the headline be like this:

Trump-suckling Uber CEO To Take Trump-Style Leave, Diminished Role After Trump-Like Workplace Scandals: Trump, Trump, Trumpity, Trump, Trump

Re: headline seems wrong...

[Reverend Green]

Have you thought about writing a love poem for Emperor Trumpâ? They say he's the romantic type and might just enjoy it.

Re: headline seems wrong...

[Anonymous Coward]

I *am* a gay wigger, you insensitive clod.

my mom died

[Anonymous Coward]

time to ask the receptionist if she's into butt stuff

Re: my mom died

[KGIII]

All women do butt stuff. I've seen multiple documentaries.

Uber is not the most valuable private company

[sjbe]

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick will take a leave of absence from the world's most valuable privately held company

It is HIGHLY unlikely that any reasonable valuation of Uber exceeds that of Saudi Aramco which is the actual most valuable private company in the world.

Given that Uber lost something like $2.8 Billion last year, proclaiming it the most valuable private company in the world is just plain idiotic.

Re:Uber is not the most valuable private company

[Anonymous Coward]

The most valuable private company in the United States is Koch Industries. Uber is not even close. It won't be private much longer anyways; all this cleaning house is to prepare for an IPO so their investors can finally cash out.

Re:Uber is not the most valuable private company

[cmseagle]

Aramco is prepping for an IPO so technically, they won't be privately held for much more than another year or two.

Old Turkish Proverb

[T.E.D.]

There's an old Turkish proverb that seems appropriate here: A fish rots from the head-down.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

That, or....

[kelanos]

Uber CEO To Take Leave, Diminished Role After Workplace Scandals OR Uber CEO To Take Leave, Diminished Role After Manufactured Media Campaign to Malign the Company for Business Reasons The tone that many media outlets choose tells all (Slashdot being a prime example). Maybe there are some problems concerning human resources affairs, but is there a company where that isn't the case? Uber is clearly being singled out. Anyone know why exactly?

Herr Trump!

[Anonymous Coward]

Is a flaming pile of douche. Much like his supporters.

It's not going to help

[HangingChad]

Uber's brand has been irreparably damaged. It's actually kind of nice to see one of those alt-right Libertarian douchebags crash and burn. Not that he'll assume any fault for Uber's eventual crash. Now that he's out he'll engage in the other alt-right habit of blaming everyone else.

Re:It's not going to help

[93 Escort Wagon]

Uber's brand has been irreparably damaged. It's actually kind of nice to see one of those alt-right Libertarian douchebags crash and burn.

What "crash and burn" are you referring to? The dude still gets to laugh all the way to the bank...

Re: I've got the perfect CEO for you to replace hi

[KGIII]

I want to play...

The prior CEO bought some Alibaba shares. That's actually the reason the company increased in value. Seeing as I have the benefit of hindsight, I'd have gutted Yahoo! like a stuck pig, sold those assets, and bought more shares of Alibaba.

It would have been spectacular.

Perfect Timing

[31415926535897]

Maybe he and Marissa can make a baby now

Re:Perfect Timing

[rat7307]

And they can call it Yahouber

I disagree

[BlueCoder]

The "youthful vibe" is good for new companies and growth. And youthful doesn't necessarily equate to the age of people but rather to lifestyle. Alcohol and people not having segregated ranks is good for growth. People that drink are willing to do more for less. Same thing for fraternizing. If your going to have relationships within the company then it should require mandatory disclosure and counseling covering issues such as breaking up without unreasonably affecting your ability to work and produce. A "living/giving culture" rather than a "retirement" oriented culture.

If I were investing in such companies I would bail if a company wanted to change too quickly. Maybe I could see it happening over 15 years or so like it did with Microsoft. Anything quicker is going to like shooting yourself in the foot. Most of the successful tech companies that successfully transitioned did so by actually advocating match making and marriage.

Re: I disagree

[Anonymous Coward]

Nooooooooo! Heterosexual relationships, and especially marriage, must be prevented at all costs! Uber should require all their workers to become trannies. It's a private company, they can do whatever they want!

-- a creepy Progressive

Possibly but unlikely

[sjbe]

It made me wonder - what can a company even do for absolution once the mob has decided they are to be punished?

Possibly nothing. It's fairly rare for a company culture that is rotten to suddenly change its ways in a short amount of time. Possible but it doesn't happen often. Uber can do a lot of really hard work to show that they have actually changed their ways and be transparent about how. It's not easy but it has been done in the past. This seems unlikely given Uber's typical disregard for the opinions of others but stranger things have happened.

If Uber has done the things they are accused of then I'm not sure they deserve absolution nor am I convinced they actually desire it. This is a company which routinely doesn't give a shit about observing niceties. To think they are going to suddenly become a sensitive organization seems unrealistic. Building trust takes a lot of time and hard work. Losing trust can be done in an instant and is incredibly easy. If the allegations are true then Uber probably deserves all the bad press and more.

Myself, I'll continue to use Uber primarily because I have it set up, and I feel like I am helping the drivers more than the company (I always tip Uber drivers now, did not at first).

You seriously think the drivers are benefiting more than the company? Seems rather conveniently optimistic of you. I think the first half of the sentence is really the reason and the behavior of the company just doesn't matter much to you.

Aramco IPO

[sjbe]

Aramco is prepping for an IPO so technically, they won't be privately held for much more than another year or two.

This is true though they are only selling something like 10% of the company so in practical terms it's still going to be privately held. But even once Aramco goes public Uber still won't be "the most valuable private company in the world". It won't even be the most valuable private company in the US for that matter.