NEW YORK (AP) — Starbucks accused a union representing thousands of its baristas of damaging the brand and endangering co-workers with a pro-Palestinian tweet. The CEO of a prominent tech conference resigned amid backlash for his public statements suggesting that Israel was committing war crimes. Company bosses vowed never to hire members of a university’s student groups that condemned Israel.
Amidst the tumultuous Israel-Hamas war, corporations are grappling with the complexities of expressing their views while employees feel silenced and overlooked. The aftermath of this conflict has seeped into workplaces everywhere, creating a state of confusion with no clear consensus.
Numerous U.S. organizations, especially in the tech and financial sectors, have close ties with Israel. Companies like J.P Morgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs, Google, and Meta wasted no time condemning the Hamas attacks and showing solidarity with Israel through public statements, social media posts, and even corporate earning calls. They pledged significant sums for humanitarian aid and outlined measures to protect employees in Israel.
Some CEOs couldn’t contain their personal anguish.
Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, expressed his horror at the targeted killings and torture of civilians in Israel. In a heartfelt LinkedIn post and a letter to employees, Bourla implored them to support one another and announced a humanitarian relief campaign.
“It is not enough to condemn these actions — we ourselves must take action,” wrote Bourla.
However, the expression of opposing views has ignited swift backlash. Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrave faced severe criticism after suggesting that Israel was committing war crimes.
“I’ll never attend/sponsor/speak at any of your events again,” declared former Facebook executive David Marcus on X (formerly known as Twitter).
In response to the mounting boycott of the Web Summit, Cosgrave resigned, stating that his personal comments had become a distraction. Despite his subsequent message condemning Hamas attacks and apologizing for the tweet’s timing, several companies withdrew from the conference, including Google, Meta, Siemens, and Intel.
Jonathan Neman, CEO of Sweetgreen, pledged to never hire Harvard students associated with groups that blamed Israel for the violence.
In another case, the law firm Winston & Strawn withdrew a job offer from a New York University student who attributed all blame to Israel in a bulletin message.
Amidst these controversies, the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the backlash against students and the lack of sympathy from corporate leaders towards Palestinian civilians.
Many employees also find themselves in precarious positions. Isra Abuhasna, a Palestinian American data scientist, voiced her support for Palestine on social media, risking her career in the process. While fearing that her stance may hinder future employment, she remains proud of her heritage and stands firm in her values.
“It’s my identity,” Abuhasna said. “What good am I in my job if I compromise my own morals and ethics?”
Starbucks found itself embroiled in a major dispute when its union, Starbucks Workers United, tweeted “Solidarity with Palestine” after the Hamas attack. Although the tweet was quickly deleted, the company received over 1,000 complaints and experienced acts of vandalism and confrontations in its stores.
Starbucks responded by filing a lawsuit to prohibit Starbucks Workers United from using its name and a similar logo. In turn, the parent union of Starbucks Workers United countersued, accusing Starbucks of defaming the union by insinuating support for terrorism and insisting on continuing to use the company name.
The fallout from the Israel-Hamas war has demonstrated the challenges corporations face in navigating sensitive political issues while ensuring inclusivity and understanding. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, more leaders are addressing the situation, such as Accenture CEO Julie Sweet, who announced a $3 million donation split between Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency services and the Palestinian Red Crescent.
Nevertheless, companies that remain silent or take a low-profile stance are also facing criticism. Jewish employee Allison Grinberg-Funes expressed disappointment with her colleagues’ delayed response to the Hamas attacks and called out her employer, Liberty Mutual, for not publicly condemning the violence.
Grinberg-Funes emphasized the need for support and recognition, stating, “We want to know that our lives matter as much as the other employees that have been shown support.” Liberty Mutual did not respond to requests for comment.
Associated Press Business Writer Dee-Ann Durbin contributed to this story.
