Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff's recent remarks concerning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a company kickoff event in Las Vegas have generated significant internal criticism from employees and some executives. The comments prompted internal discussions regarding company values, confidentiality of communications, and Salesforce's engagement with the agency.
The Incident
During a keynote address on a Tuesday in February at a company event in Las Vegas, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff made multiple jokes involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Benioff reportedly asked non-US or international employees to stand, then joked about the presence of ICE agents monitoring them or surveilling Salesforce employee travel. Reports indicate this was met with boos from the audience.
Additionally, Benioff made a comment about ICE agents for employees who had not used Slackbot and criticized Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show. A recording of the speech published on an internal Salesforce site was subsequently edited to remove the ICE remarks.
Internal Reactions and Leadership Responses
Following Benioff's comments, employees expressed strong disapproval in an internal Slack channel, which includes nearly 25,000 members.
Rob Seaman, General Manager of Salesforce-owned Slack, posted in an internal company message that he could not "defend or explain" Benioff's comments, stating they did not align with his personal values.
Salesforce Vice President Craig Broscow acknowledged "deep disappointment" and suggested Benioff should acknowledge the upset caused by his attempted joke.
Salesforce co-founder and Chief Technical Officer Parker Harris addressed the internal controversy in a product and tech team meeting.
Harris stated he was "not OK with" Benioff's comments, characterizing the joke as "a very bad joke."
He also confirmed that Rob Seaman faced "consequences" for his public post, stating it "went out on the internet."
Harris warned that leaking internal discussions is a violation of the company's Code of Conduct and a "fireable offense," referencing a previous leak to Business Insider regarding an executive's criticism of Benioff's jokes.
An employee, Farone Rasheed, posted on a networking site expressing concern for international co-workers and frustration with leadership's views, citing fear of retaliation.
Employees discussed potential responses, including work stoppages or supporting communities impacted by ICE. Some employees reported receiving emails inquiring about their absence from the event's programming.
Company's Official Stance and Confidentiality Warnings
Salesforce President and COO Robin Washington addressed the internal controversy at a company-wide meeting, marking the first such gathering since Benioff's February comments. Washington, who also serves as CFO, did not directly reference Benioff's specific remarks but assured employees that the company values their input and takes appropriate actions.
She stated that the company engages and adjusts when issues arise, guided by its core values, and affirmed that employees' voices have been heard, leading to necessary adjustments.
Parker Harris, in his address, clarified that Salesforce's software was not involved in current U.S. events, including those in Minneapolis. He stated that Salesforce is "not a political organization" and encouraged employees to express their views through voting. Harris also asked employees to keep internal discussions confidential. Benioff has not issued a public statement regarding the comments, and Salesforce did not immediately provide a comment to media outlets on several occasions.
Broader Context and Past Conduct
The controversy emerged amid reports that hundreds of Salesforce workers intend to urge Benioff to denounce ICE and terminate future business engagements with the agency. Salesforce has existing contracts with ICE and has reportedly sought to increase its business with the agency.
The incident occurs as Salesforce faces several business challenges:
- The company's stock has fallen 43% over the past year.
- Uncertainty exists regarding its business model, demand for AI services, and increased competition.
- Five high-profile executives have departed the company since December.
Benioff had previously downplayed concerns about the potential disruption of software-as-a-service business models by artificial intelligence during the company's most recent earnings call, but he did not address the ICE controversy at that time. Benioff has a history of making unscripted jokes, some of which have been perceived as tone-deaf by employees. However, he has also previously advocated for employees on political issues, including leading a corporate boycott in Indiana in 2015 and offering relocation for Texas employees following an anti-abortion law in 2021. In late 2023, he apologized after expressing support for deploying the National Guard to San Francisco, which drew criticism.