Salesforce Founder Publicly Condemns CEO's Controversial ICE Surveillance Joke
Salesforce founder Parker Harris has broken his silence regarding CEO Marc Benioff's controversial joke about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) surveilling international workers, calling the remark "very bad" and expressing his personal disapproval. The incident has sparked significant internal turmoil at the technology giant, revealing deep divisions within the company's leadership and workforce.
The Controversial Joke That Sparked Employee Fury
During Salesforce's annual Company Kickoff event last week, CEO Marc Benioff made a joke that has since created substantial controversy within the organization. According to multiple reports, Benioff asked employees who had traveled from outside the United States to stand up during his opening keynote address. He then quipped that ICE agents were present in the building and were keeping tabs on these international workers.
The room reportedly responded with audible groans, and the backlash was immediate and intense. Employees flooded internal Slack channels with expressions of anger and disbelief. One employee wrote pointedly, "It's hard to believe this company still has values when you make completely off-base jokes about ICE in your opening keynote."
Internal Backlash and Employee Reactions
The employee reaction to Benioff's joke was swift and severe. In a channel specifically named #airing-of-grievances, one employee posted a meme asking "Are we the baddies?" while others questioned whether any apology could possibly undo the damage caused by the insensitive remark. Several employees described themselves as "furious" to various media outlets, with one characterizing the mood as employees going "absolutely apeshit" across internal communication channels.
The controversy highlights the sensitive nature of immigration issues in the technology sector, where many companies rely heavily on international talent. Salesforce, like many Silicon Valley firms, employs numerous workers from outside the United States, making the joke particularly troubling for affected employees.
Founder's Response and Internal Meeting Details
Salesforce founder Parker Harris addressed the controversy during a recent meeting with the company's product and technology teams. When questioned about why many company leaders had not responded to Benioff's comments, Harris revealed that someone already had responded—and that response was immediately leaked to the media.
"Marc made a very bad joke," Harris stated unequivocally during the meeting. "But that's something that Marc did, and I'm not gonna call him out in public out on the internet." He emphasized that Salesforce is "not a political organization" and encouraged employees to express their views through democratic processes like voting rather than through internal company channels.
Confidentiality Demands and Code of Conduct Warnings
Harris made a strong plea for confidentiality during the internal meeting, telling employees, "Let's talk about it with each other and not out to Business Insider and other places because it doesn't do us any good." He issued a stern warning about the consequences of leaking internal discussions to the media, stating clearly that such actions constitute "a violation of the Code of Conduct, and it's a fireable offense."
"And if we do catch you, we will fire you," Harris added, making the company's position on media leaks unequivocally clear. This strong stance reflects growing corporate concerns about internal communications becoming public and potentially damaging company reputation.
Personal Voting Stance and Ongoing Dialogue
The Salesforce founder shared his personal approach to addressing issues he disagrees with within the company. "I'm going to use my democratic right to vote, and that's how I'm gonna take action against some of the things that I'm not okay with," Harris explained. He acknowledged that this approach might not satisfy all employees, stating, "So that's my statement. It may not make you feel better. So I'm sorry if it doesn't make you feel better."
Despite his preference for confidential discussions, Harris expressed willingness to continue the conversation, saying, "I think we should keep talking about it. I'm totally fine talking about it more. Please keep it confidential." This balanced approach—encouraging dialogue while demanding discretion—reflects the challenging position of company leadership navigating sensitive internal controversies.
Broader Implications for Corporate Culture
The incident raises important questions about corporate culture, leadership accountability, and appropriate workplace humor in multinational technology companies. As businesses increasingly operate in politically charged environments, executives face growing scrutiny over their public and private statements. The Salesforce controversy demonstrates how quickly a poorly considered joke can escalate into a significant internal crisis requiring leadership intervention and damage control.
The situation also highlights the tension between corporate desires for confidentiality and employee expectations of transparency and accountability. As technology companies continue to navigate complex social and political issues, incidents like this one serve as cautionary tales about the importance of thoughtful communication from leadership at all levels.
