Cultural reboot recommended for Uber
Proposals include clear policies on harassment
SAN FRANCISCO — It’s clear from former Attorney General
Eric Holder’s recommendations on how to fix Uber’s dysfunctional management that the maledominated company grew huge without even the most basic procedures to prevent sexual harassment, bullying and other bad behavior.
The 13-page document from Holder’s firm Covington & Burling LLP released Tuesday exposes a startup-turned-goliath that permitted misconduct, had few policies to protect employees and ran with little board supervision.
The recommendations, adopted unanimously by Uber’s board, show that the next version of Uber, called 2.0 by CEO co-founder Travis Kalaninck, will have to be much different from the company that flouted regulations to become the world’s largest ride-hailing company.
Kalanick told employees Tuesday that he’d be taking an indefinite leave of absence.
After interviewing 200 witnesses, Holder had to make such basic recommendations as setting clear policies to protect workers from harassment, and that the human resources department get a better handle on keeping records and tracking employee complaints. It even suggests such simple procedures as using performance reviews to hold leaders accountable and requiring all employees to turn in receipts so the company can make sure expenses match its values.
Holder also called for trimming Kalanick’s job duties, shifting dayto-day functions to a yet-to-be-hired chief operating officer.
The board unanimously approved the recommendations on Sunday, including a suggestion that a senior executive be tasked with making sure they are implemented. Apparently because of distrust of some leaders, Holder recommended that care be taken to make sure the executive “is viewed positively by the employees.”
Uber was also advised to make sure its workforce is more diverse. The company’s diversity figures are similar to the rest of Silicon Valley, with low numbers for women and underrepresented minorities. In the U.S., less than a third of the company’s workers are female.