Salesforce CEO's Jokes About ICE Upset Employees

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff recently made jokes about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a company event. These jokes have made many employees unhappy. They are asking for him to publicly state his opposition to ICE. The company has edited the jokes out of a video recording.
By Newsroom | Business, Technology |

A recent internal company event at Salesforce has ignited significant employee discontent following remarks made by CEO and co-founder Marc Benioff regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The jokes, delivered during a keynote address at a company kickoff event in Las Vegas, have led to widespread criticism from employees and calls for a public stance against ICE. This situation has also drawn attention from figures outside the company, including a co-founder, who have voiced their disapproval.

Salesforce cofounder 'not OK' with Benioff's ICE crack: 'Marc made a very bad joke.' - 1

Context of the Remarks and Initial Reactions

The controversy stems from comments made by Marc Benioff at a Salesforce event where he asked international employees to stand, then quipped that ICE agents were present to monitor them. This occurred at a time when Salesforce had recently conducted layoffs and when the company's stock had seen a notable decline over the past year.

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Salesforce cofounder 'not OK' with Benioff's ICE crack: 'Marc made a very bad joke.' - 2

  • Event Details: The remarks were made during Salesforce's annual Company Kickoff in Las Vegas. Benioff also reportedly commented on the Super Bowl performance of Bad Bunny.

  • Employee Outrage: Many employees have expressed anger and disappointment through internal communication channels, such as Slack and LinkedIn.

  • Internal Letters and Petitions: An open letter, reportedly signed by over 1,300 employees, is circulating internally, urging Benioff to publicly denounce ICE.

  • Removal from Recording: A recording of Benioff's keynote, posted on an internal Salesforce site, was edited to exclude the remarks about ICE.

Evidence of Discontent and Criticism

Multiple reports detail the negative reaction from Salesforce employees and some executives.

Salesforce cofounder 'not OK' with Benioff's ICE crack: 'Marc made a very bad joke.' - 3

  • Employee Communications: Internal messages on Slack channels show employees condemning the comments and questioning the company's values.

  • Executive Statements: Rob Seaman, General Manager of Slack (a Salesforce-owned company), reportedly communicated his disapproval to his own staff, calling Benioff's remarks "indefensible."

  • Co-founder's Stance: Salesforce co-founder Geldard has publicly stated he is "not OK" with Benioff's comments, describing them as "a very bad joke."

  • Public Condemnation: Some employees have also voiced their concerns on platforms like LinkedIn.

The Nature of the Remarks

The exact wording of Benioff's jokes is not uniformly reported across all accounts, but the central theme involves ICE's presence in relation to international employees.

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Salesforce cofounder 'not OK' with Benioff's ICE crack: 'Marc made a very bad joke.' - 4

  • Core Joke: Benioff reportedly asked international employees to stand and then made a quip about ICE agents being in the room to monitor them, implying potential deportation or scrutiny.

  • Further Comments: There are also mentions of Benioff making a joke about ICE agents being present for employees who had not yet used a Slackbot tool.

  • Context of Timing: These comments have been described as "cruel" and "tone-deaf," especially given recent events, including fatal shootings by federal immigration agents and discussions around the company's past business dealings with ICE.

Salesforce's Business Relationship with ICE

Recent reports indicate a complex history between Salesforce and ICE, adding another layer to the employee backlash.

  • Agentforce AI Pitch: Leaked documents suggest Salesforce pitched its Agentforce AI technology to ICE, aiming to help the agency rapidly hire agents and process tip-line reports.

  • Past Advocacy: Benioff himself has been involved in discussions with government officials regarding immigration enforcement. He reportedly participated in outreach that led to the cancellation of an ICE deployment in San Francisco. This has led some to note a shift in his public stance or approach over time.

Internal Corporate Response and Edited Records

While Benioff has not issued a public statement on the matter, internal actions and communications suggest an acknowledgment of the controversy.

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  • Internal Addresses: Salesforce executives, including Vice Presidents and Slack's General Manager, have addressed the incident internally, attempting to manage employee concerns.

  • Absence of Jokes in Recording: The decision to edit out the ICE-related jokes from the official recording of the keynote on the internal company website is seen by some as an indication that the company recognizes the remarks were inappropriate.

  • Unanswered Employee Demands: An open letter circulating internally demands Benioff publicly denounce ICE, a request that has not yet been publicly met by the CEO.

Expert and Community Perspectives

The situation has prompted commentary on leadership ethics and the impact of executive statements on company culture.

  • Moral Leadership: Experts like Dov Seidman, founder of The HOW Institute for Society, emphasize the importance of "value-based behavior" and "moral authority" in leadership, suggesting that leaders need "grounded empathy and cultural awareness."

  • Community Backlash: Beyond employee sentiment, the "Salesforce ecosystem" and the broader community have reacted, with the event sparking what is described as "huge community backlash."

Conclusion and Unresolved Issues

The jokes made by Marc Benioff about ICE at a recent Salesforce event have triggered a significant negative reaction within the company. Employees have voiced strong opposition, circulated internal letters demanding a public denouncement of ICE, and noted the removal of the offending remarks from an official recording. The situation is compounded by reports of Salesforce's past business interactions with ICE. While internal discussions and an edited recording suggest the company is responding, the lack of a public statement from Benioff leaves employee demands unaddressed and the full resolution of the employee discontent pending.

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Sources Used:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff say about ICE?
He made jokes at a company event, asking international employees to stand and saying ICE agents were watching them.
Q: How did employees react?
Many employees were very upset and angry. They signed a letter asking him to speak out against ICE.
Q: Did the company do anything about the jokes?
Yes, the company removed the jokes from a video recording of the event. Some leaders also spoke to employees about it.
Q: Has Benioff said anything publicly?
No, he has not made a public statement about the jokes yet.
Q: Does Salesforce work with ICE?
Reports say Salesforce has pitched technology to ICE in the past. This adds to the employee concerns.