Recluse reflections

Recluse reflections: P-I considers business consequences of Microsoft's shift in position
Notes on spaces seen through windows

"But now he knows these hills, that is to say he knows them better, and if ever again he sees them from afar it will be I think with other eyes, and not only that but the within, all that inner space one never sees, the brain and heart and other caverns where thought and feeling dance their sabbath, all this too quite differently disposed."
-- Samuel Beckett

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Robin Evans
Seattle

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Thursday, April 28, 2005

P-I considers business consequences of Microsoft's shift in position

The P-I isn't letting go on the issue of Microsoft's recent and significant shift in position on anti-discrimination. In a carefully balanced piece today, in a front-page above-the-fold story reporters Todd Bishop and Dan Richman look at how other corporations are handling social-issue legislation. While noting that Issaquah-based Costco diligently avoids taking official positions on social issues, the story notes that many northwest companies, including Boeing and Nike continued to support the recent anti-discrimination measure. It quotes a Hewlett-Packard official who explained why his company supported for the bill: "One word: competitiveness."

HP's current position is very similar to that taken by Microsoft itself in 2004. The paper includes quotations from the letter of support for last year's version of the bill sent to its sponsor, Rep. Ed Murray:

Our employees know that they will be treated fairly, without being subject to prejudice or discrimination. An essential element of those policies includes the company's anti-discrimination policy that expressly states that it will not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.

Unfortunately, not all Americans experience this basic protection in their employment. It remains legal in 38 states to fire someone because of their sexual orientation. This is not only bad for business, it is bad for America. House Bill 1809 would simply and fairly extend to Washingtonians the fundamental right to be judged on one's own merits. And it does so without any undue burden on our business environment.

Microsoft strongly supports passage of HB 1809 and the additional protections it provides in our state's law against discrimination. The principles it fosters are consistent with our corporate principles in treating all employees with fairness and respect.

posted by WebWrangler | 10:12 AM | Link | 0 comments

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