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CEO Apologizes After Pep Talk Urging Employees To 'Leave Pity City' Went Viral–And People Are Not Impressed
Last week a video of MillerKnoll CEO Andi Owen giving a "pep talk" to employees went viral after she told them to "leave pity city" in response to their fear of not getting their bonus for the year.
Owen said in the video:
“Don’t ask about ‘What are we going to do if we don’t get a bonus?’ Get the damn $26 million. Spend your time and your effort thinking about the $26 million we need, and not thinking about what you’re going to do if you don’t get a bonus, all right?” ...
“I had an old boss who said to me one time ‘You can visit Pity City, but ya can’t live there,’ so people—leave Pity City.”
You can watch the video below.
\u201czoom call from a ceo who cancelled all employee bonuses but took a $6.4 million bonus herself\u201d— Warren Commission Test Skull (@Warren Commission Test Skull) 1681699776
Owen herself received $3.9 million in incentives last year, not including her $1.1 million salary.
Needless to say, this sparked some outrage on social media.
\u201c@conzmoleman That\u2019s the scheme, get everyone else to break their backs working for less just so the highest up can get more. It should also be noted that not everyone in these high positions have \u201cworked their way up\u201d either.\u201d— Warren Commission Test Skull (@Warren Commission Test Skull) 1681699776
\u201c@conzmoleman "Lead. Lead by example. Treat people well. Talk to them. Be kind."\n\nAnd she does none of this.\u201d— Warren Commission Test Skull (@Warren Commission Test Skull) 1681699776
In the wake of her controversial video and subsequent hefty criticism, Owen, who took over the furniture company in 2018, emailed an apology to her employees.
According to Michigan news site mlive.com, the email stated:
"I want to be transparent and empathetic, and as I continue to reflect on this instance, I feel terrible that my rallying cry seemed insensitive."
"What I'd hoped would energize the team to meet a challenge we've met many times before landed in a way that I did not intend and for that I am sorry."
The apology continued:
"Nothing will lessen the power and strength of our collective team. My appreciation for each of you is huge and I will continue to do everything I can to help us meet our shared goals."
"Thank you for your hard work, your grace, and for the commitment you show to one another and our company every single day."
People took to social media to express their thoughts on the apology, most claiming it did not seem sincere and that Owen is likely only "sorry" she was called out.
\u201c@michigannews I\u2019m sorry that everyone knows who I am at my core -Andi Owens.\u201d— MLive.com News (@MLive.com News) 1681919582
\u201c@mrobmused @michigannews She doesn\u2019t feel anything!\u201d— MLive.com News (@MLive.com News) 1681919582
\u201c@michigannews \u201cSeemed insensitive\u201d\u2026no lady it was insensitive.\u201d— MLive.com News (@MLive.com News) 1681919582
\u201c@michigannews Sorry the video was released thats all\u201d— MLive.com News (@MLive.com News) 1681919582
\u201c@michigannews I bet Andi Owen feels nowhere near as terrible as the poor souls that work for her.\u201d— MLive.com News (@MLive.com News) 1681919582
\u201c@michigannews "I feel terrible that my rallying cry seemed insensitive"\n\nLol rallying cry.\u201d— MLive.com News (@MLive.com News) 1681919582
\u201c@LosAngelesFTW A little backhanded apology never hurt anyone \ud83d\ude44\ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffb\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\ud83e\udd26\ud83c\udffb\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\u201d— LAFTW (@LAFTW) 1681919752
\u201c@LosAngelesFTW Def not an apology at all\u201d— LAFTW (@LAFTW) 1681919752
\u201c@LosAngelesFTW This is the most corporate BS apology I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d— LAFTW (@LAFTW) 1681919752
Of course, many also wanted to know if the bonus for her employees was reinstated.
\u201c@michigannews Don't really care about the apology: Did she restore the employee bonuses she decided not to give?\u201d— MLive.com News (@MLive.com News) 1681919582
\u201c@LosAngelesFTW \u201cPS: none of you should be getting excited about a bonus, though. That\u2019s still not happening for any you, my incredibly talented, dedicated, and hard working team\u201d.\u201d— LAFTW (@LAFTW) 1681919752
\u201c@LosAngelesFTW She should say she is sorry by using some of her huge bonus to bonus her employees.\u201d— LAFTW (@LAFTW) 1681919752
Owen finished her email:
"Nothing will lessen the power and strength of our collective team."
"My appreciation for each of you is huge and I will continue to do everything I can to help us meet our shared goals."
"Thank you for your hard work, your grace, and for the commitment you show to one another and our company every single day."
"-Andi"
Whether this will mend fences within the company better than it did with the public remains to be seen.