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Uber explains stance amid delete requests
Uber is sending apologetic messages to customers who want to delete their accounts over the recent sexual harassment allegations, and Poles gear up for a full day of doughnut-packed diet.
Uber explains stance amid delete requests
Ride-sharing company Uber has been hit with allegations of sexual harassment and has gone as far as asking former US President Barack Obama’s attorney general to lead an investigation, but it is now sending an explanatory note to some of its users who request to delete their accounts over the claims.
It all began after Susan Fowler, a former engineer at the company, wrote a blog post about her “strange year at Uber” in which she detailed a number of sexual advances by her manager. Ms Fowler said her plea for action to the company’s human resources department led to nowhere.
The blog post immediately went viral and #deleteuber once again became a trend on social media platforms. The hashtag was first used in late January when the company was accused of taking advantage of a strike by some New York taxi drivers in the aftermath of protests at a number of airports against President Donald Trump’s travel ban, a claim Uber rejects.
It prompted Uber chief Travis Kalanick to say the allegations were “abhorrent”, promising an immediate probe in a tweet and a subsequent email to staff.
Yesterday, the company announced Eric Holder, who was President Obama’s attorney general between 2009 and 2015, would team up with Tammy Albarran – both partners at law firm Covington and Burling – to investigate the claims. They will be assisted by Uber board member Arianna Huffington, the founder of the Huffington Post.
Now, some users are reporting that after attempting to delete their accounts Uber sends them a message in which it says all staff members are “hurting” over the allegations.
“Everyone at Uber is deeply hurting after reading Susan Fowler’s blog post. What she describes is abhorrent and against everything Uber stands for and believes in,” it says.
“We believe in creating a workplace where a deep sense of justice underpins everything we do and it’s everyone’s number one priority to create change in the coming months and years.”Although the message seems to be urging users to reconsider their decision, it doesn’t stop them from deleting their accounts.
.bbc.com
