Brazil Addresses "Technological Slavery"
Brazil has passed a new law that makes employees eligible to request overtime pay for email and phone calls after work hours. The Brazilian government views emails to employees' smartphones as orders. The law addresses what a labor lawyer in this CNN video calls "technological slavery."
Discussion Starters:
- What's your view of the new law?
- Is this a good idea for United States? Would it work? The video mentions difficulty in enforcement. What other challenges could you see?
- How else could we avoid the 24/7 nature of work?
Auschwitz to Sell Fitness?
The Circuit Factory, a gym in Dubai, used an Auschwitz photo to sell membership.
No surprise, the company heard a strong reaction to the campaign on sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
The Circuit Factory responded by firing its "creative guy," pledging a donation to an undetermined charity, and apologizing:
The Anti-Defamation League issued this statement about the incident:
"We are increasingly troubled by both the ignorance and mindset of a generation that appears to be so distant from a basic understanding of the Holocaust that it seems acceptable to use this horrific tragedy as a gimmick to bring attention to promoting losing weight."
Despite the public reaction, the campaign may have worked, as Circuit Factory founder Phil Parkinson told Arabian Business News:
"A huge number people have researched or Googled… our YouTube channel has shot up, our [Facebook] group page has got an hundred extra members in minutes and we have had about five times as many enquiries as before," he said. "It has got to the point I am nervous that I can't cater for demand."
Discussion Starters:
- What's your reaction to the ad? Do you find it funny, offensive, or something else?
- What do you make of the increased interest in the gym? Did the campaign pay off, after all?
- How can a company avoid this type of campaign, which may offend people?
Overheard on the Train: "Happy Birthday Smiley Face"
The new iPhone's Siri voice recognition system was the subject of an article in yesterday's New York Times. With the robotic commands and a computerized response, phone interactions with virtual assistants are becoming annoying to people in public places.
Because the technology is so new, policies haven't yet kept pace. Cliff Cole, a spokesperson for Amtrak, for example, told the Times that it currently bans "phone calls," but not talking with your phone. He said, "We may have to adjust the language if it becomes a problem."
People are complaining that users could just as easily type without disturbing others and that the robotic speech often sounds "creepy."
According to James E. Katz, a mobile communication researcher at Rutgers, most people will eventually get used to this new behavior, but "there will be a small minority of traditionalists who yearn for the good old days when people just texted in public."
Discussion Starters:
- Have you overheard people talking to their phones in this way, or have you done this yourself? Do you consider it annoying?
- Imagine that you work as the director of corporate communications for a major company. Write a policy for employees who use their virtual assistant in a cubicle office environment. What is important for people to know, and what rules are reasonable for people to follow?
Poor Timing for Qantas Twitter Contest
Australian airline Qantas had good intentions when it promoted a "Qantas Luxury" competition, but the contest was a big failure. Qantas encouraged tweeters to submit creative answers:
Ever wanted to experience Qantas First Class luxury? You could win a First Class gift pack feat, a luxury amenity kit and our famous QF PJs. To enter tell us What is your dream luxury inflight experience? (Be creative!) Answer must include #QantasLuxury.
Got Milk? Or Get Fired
A CEO of a public relations firm has had it with office selfishness. Although Keith Zakheim denies following through on the threat (as yet), he sent an email to all employees: "You will be fired for not replacing the milk." What's worse: the threat or a PR CEO's lack of apostrophes?
From: Keith Zakheim
Date: September 27, 2011 8:20:21 AM EDT
To: Beckerman Staff
Subject: I don't know what else to do...I have repeatedly requested until I am blue in the face that the person that finishes the milk must replace the milk. Its not complicated and is a simple sign of respect for fellow employees.
So, imagine my chagrin this morning when I stumbled in at 715 after enduring a typically painful Redskins loss and in dire need of a shot of caffeine, only to find that the skim milk in the refrigerator had three drops of milk left. Literally 3 drops, an amount that would maybe fill the tummy of a prematurely born mouse. The person that did this is either incredibly lazy, obnoxiously selfish or woefully devoid of intelligence - 3 traits that are consistent with the profile of FORMER Beckerman employees.
As you can tell from the tenor of this email, I am not happy and at my wits end. Allyne, Ilhwa, and I have repeatedly beseeched you to replace the supplies that you consume - whether its pencils, paper, or MILK. This costs you nothing - I pay for it! Yet, it is still repeatedly ignored.
So, I am gravely serious when I write this - if I catch someone not replacing the milk, or at least, in the case where the downstairs store has close already, not sending an email to the office so the first person that arrives (usually Christa or me) can pick one up upon arrival - then I am going to fire you. Im not joking. You will be fired for not replacing the milk, and have fun explaining that one to your next employer. This is not a empty threat so PLEASE don't test me.
99% of this office consists of great people that work hard, treat their employes with respect, and understand that they are part of something that is bigger than them. However, there seems to be a small element that doesn't understand this. So its time that they do or else they should start refreshing their resume.
For those of you who have worked for me for years, you know this is not my style so PLEASE take this seriously!
Thank you for your cooperation.
KZ
-
KEITH ZAKHEIM | CEO
BECKERMAN
ANTENNA GROUP
Excessive Kissing on Southwest Flight?
#BoycottSouthwest Airlines is trending because of an in-flight kissing incident. Leisha Hailey, an actress on the TV show The L Word, and her partner, musician Camila Grey, were asked to deplane after kissing on board. Hailey tweeted about the incident:
"I have been discriminated against by @SouthwestAir. Flt. attendant said that it was a ‘family' airline and kissing was not ok."
"This is an outrage. I demand a public apology by @SouthwestAir and a refund. Hate is not a family value. I will never fly this airline."
Proud of their LGBT-friendly policies, Southwest posted this statement:
Update: Southwest has issued a second statement, explaining that the passengers were removed from the plane because of profanity, not kissing.
Discussion Starters:
- After reading about this incident, would you boycott Southwest? Why or why not? What other information would you want to know before making a decision?
- How do you assess Southwest's response to the situation? What did they do well, and what, if anything, could they have done differently?
Fox Sports Makes Fun of Asians at USC
For a Fox Sports Network video to promote the Pac-12 football conference, comedian Bob Oschack interviews Asian students at USC. These students don't know about the conference -- and likely don't care -- but are asked to speak on camera.
Download Fox Sports Network Targets Asians at USC
A spokesperson from Fox Sports apologized for the video:
"The context was clearly inappropriate, and the video was removed as soon as we became aware of it. We will review our editorial process to determine where the breakdown occurred and we will take steps to ensure something like this never happens again."
Discussion Starters:
- Do you consider the video racist? Is it ethical? Explain your position.
- What could Fox Sports change in their editorial process to make sure this doesn't happen again, as the spokesperson promises?
JCPenney Apologies for "Too Pretty to Do Homework" T-Shirt
JCPenney's new T-shirt and the promotional text offended many.
The controversy played out on JCPenney's Facebook page with comments like this one:
The company was quick to apologize:
"J.C. Penney is committed to being America's destination for great style and great value for the whole family. We agree that the 'Too pretty' t-shirt does not deliver an appropriate message, and we have immediately discontinued its sale. Our merchandise is intended to appeal to a broad customer base, not to offend them. We would like to apologize to our customers and are taking action to ensure that we continue to uphold the integrity of our merchandise that they have come to expect."
Discussion Starters:
- Do you consider the T-shirts offensive or just funny?
- In a follow-up message, JCPenney Corporate Communications representative said, "We are not happy about the shirt! We're looking into it right now, to find out how it happened. It was only online, not available in stores, and we have removed it from the site." How do you assess JCPenney's reaction?
Future Doctors Tested for People Skills
Medical schools are finally seeing the importance of a good "bedside manner" and are testing applicants for people skills. The "M.M.I." or multiple mini interview is now in place in at least eight medical schools in the United States and 13 in Canada. Applicants face ethical questions, such as circumcision and alternative remedies, and have to discuss their views in nine brief interviews. A New York Times article explains:
"Candidates who jump to improper conclusions, fail to listen or are overly opinionated fare poorly because such behavior undermines teams. Those who respond appropriately to the emotional tenor of the interviewer or ask for more information do well in the new admissions process because such tendencies are helpful not only with colleagues but also with patients."
Discussion Starters:
- What is your opinion about the new selection technique? In what ways is this similar to employment interviews for corporate jobs?
- What do you think about the emphasis on people skills for medical school students? Is this important, or should doctors just be good scientists?
- What is your experience with doctors and their people skills? Do you see room for improvement that this selection process might help?
Move over Myspace: LinkedIn
LinkedIn, the business social networking site, has surpassed Myspace in number of visitors each month. LinkedIn is now the second most popular social network, behind Facebook. The news is interesting considering that LinkedIn offers a focus on careers and job search. Myspace, in contrast, may be too close to Facebook, as a general social network. For business communicators, the news is no surprise: only consumer product companies seem to have much use for Myspace. A Burson-Marsteller Fortune Global 100 Social Media Study focuses on Facebook fan pages, Twitter, YouTube, and blogs.
Discussion Starters:
- What is your experience with Myspace? Why do you believe that LinkedIn is more popular?
- Are you on LinkedIn? What do you see as the value of joining? How do you use the site?
Delta Criticized for Saudi Partnership: Can Jews Fly?
Delta Airlines has formed an alliance with Saudi Arabian Airlines that is causing people to question whether Delta discriminates against Jewish people. The Saudi government does not grant visas to Israelis. The Anti-Defamation League, an organization that fights anti-Semitism, has urged the airline not to "be a party" to discriminatory practices. Delta responded to the criticism in a statement: "Delta Air Lines does not discriminate nor do we condone discrimination against any of our customers in regards to age, race, nationality, religion, or gender." Read more of Delta's response on its blog.
Discussion Starters:
- Do you consider Delta's partnership discriminatory? Why or why not?
- How do you react to Delta's response on its blog? Which arguments do you find most and least convincing?
Customer Captures Anti-Gay Comments at Starbucks
At a Long Island Starbucks, a customer apparently overheard a manager speaking with an employee (Jeffrey) and then making disrespectful comments about him to other employees. The customer's blog post about the incident got Starbucks' attention.
Starbucks' response, "Our Dedication to Embrace Diversity," states, "We are disheartened by the allegations reported in an East Coast Starbucks store and are taking immediate measures to investigate and take any steps necessary to make this right. The actions reported do not correspond with our values, who we are as a company or the beliefs we try to instill in our partners."
Discussion Starters:
- How, if at all, does the customer's alleged experience and Starbucks' response affect your perspective of Starbucks as an employer or as a company?
- If you owned the Long Island Starbucks store, what, if anything, would you do in response to the customer's blog post?
Assignment Idea:
- The customer's blog post doesn't follow principles of business communication. Rewrite Missy's blog post to improve focus and organization.
Dior Designer Makes Offensive Comments
The Story
Dior fashion designer John Galliano is caught on video saying "I love Hitler," among other offensive comments, during a drunken tirade. The company reacted quickly, terminating Galliano and issuing a statement. Watch the news report, below.
Discussion Starters
- Did Dior do the right thing by firing Galliano? Why or why not?
- What are the potential consequences to actors, such as Nicole Kidman, who wore Dior at The Academy Awards?
- What is your reaction to people who defend Galliano's comments, for example, the writer who posted, "If you are breaker of taboos, then antisemitism is only another taboo, no different from any other. It's the saying of the unsayable. It has become the last frontier for those demanding freedom of speech, for whom everything, even the Holocaust, is fair game."
Assignment Ideas
- Write a memo to your instructor explaining why you consider Galliano's comments inappropriate according to principles of intercultural communication.
- Assess Dior President Sidney Toledano's statement: "The House of Dior declares with the greatest firmness its policy of zero-tolerance regarding any anti-Semitic or racist statement or attitude." Write a brief assessment of the statement, write your own version, and explain why yours is better.
Comments on BBC Program Called "Outrageous, Vulgar, and Inexcusable"
The Story
Did the BBC motoring show, Top Gear, go too far with its irreverent humor? In describing Mexican cars, Richard Hammond said they would reflect "national characteristics" and would be "lazy, feckless, flatulent." Negative comments about Mexicans continued on the show. After much criticism, BBC apologized for the offensive comments.
Discussion Starters
- After listening to the news clip, how do you assess the comments about Mexicans? Do they offend you? Can you see how they might offend others?
- Read BBC's response to the incident. The statement acknowledges an apology but also defends the practice of "national stereotyping" as part of the show -- as well as part of British humor. Do you buy this explanation?
Assignment Ideas
- Read some of the comments posted about the incident. Choose 2-3 that you most agree with and, in an email to your instructor, explain why they have merit. Alternatively, you may choose 2-3 that you most disagree with and explain your reasoning.
- Write an email to Top Gear presenters to either criticize or defend their comments.
Qantas Could Improve Communication After Emergency Landing
The Story
Fifteen minutes after taking off in London, a Qantas A380 flight made an emergency landing because of engine failure. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but people on board were frightened, grounded passengers wanted more information, and Twitter was abuzz with misinformation.
Discussion Starters
- Who are Qantas' primary audiences for communication during this incident?
- What were Qantas' missed opportunities in communicating about the plane damage and emergency landing?
- What communication media are available to Qantas, and which should take priority for their messages during this time?
- Read the grounded passenger's perspective about communication from Qantas. What could airline personnel have done differently for the Los Angeles passengers?
Assignment Ideas
- Create a communication plan for potential future airline crises. Identify all internal and external audiences, objectives for communicating with each audience, preferred media for each group, and sequence of messages.
- Read the article about Qantas' lackluster Twitter response. Write a few Tweets on behalf of the company to address these concerns.
News Analyst Fired Over Comments about Muslims
The Story
Juan Williams, longtime analyst for NPR News, was fired by the agency for remarks he made on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor." Although Williams warned Bill O'Reilly, the program host, against blaming all Muslims for the actions of a few extremists on 9/11, he did admit to feeling "worried" and "nervous" when he sees people in "Muslim garb" on an airplane. The context for this comment (below) was Bill O'Reilly's dispute on the TV program, "The View," where he said "Muslims killed us on 9/11."
Discussion Starters
- Williams' termination is highly controversial, with some Republican representatives calling for Congress to cut federal funding of NPR. Why would someone take this position? Republican Rep. Peter King said, "This is political correctness carried to its extreme form." What does he mean by this?
- Williams denies that his comments are "bigoted" and disputes his termination. Watch his response to the firing, below. How would you describe Williams' point of view?
Assignment Ideas
- In small groups, discuss your own view. Should Williams have been fired? Why or why not?
- How does this story relate to the discussion of unbiased language in Chapter 2? Discuss your perspective with a partner.