GrubHub faces backlash after CEO’s anti-Trump email to employees
GrubHub Inc. Chief Executive Matt Maloney is facing a firestorm after speaking out against President-elect Donald Trump in an email to employees Wednesday, saying if employees don’t agree with creating a culture of support and inclusiveness, they should resign.
In the original email sent to the online food-ordering company’s 1,400 employees Wednesday afternoon, Maloney said he rejects the “nationalist, anti-immigrant and hateful politics of Donald Trump.”
By the next afternoon, a Twitter campaign to boycott the company was in full force, as headlines claimed he told all pro-Trump employees to resign.
Maloney said in a blog post Thursday that his comments had been misconstrued and that he was trying to say he doesn’t tolerate discriminatory activity or hateful commentary — not encourage Trump voters to quit.
In the original email, Maloney wrote: “While demeaning, insulting and ridiculing minorities, immigrants and the physically/mentally disabled worked for Mr. Trump, I want to be clear that his behavior — and these views, have no place at GrubHub. Had he worked here, many of his comments would have resulted in his immediate termination.”
He also wrote that the company promised to fight for any employee who was scared or felt personally exposed.
“If you do not agree with this statement then please reply to this email with your resignation because you have no place here,” he wrote. “We do not tolerate hateful attitudes on our team.”
On the Apple App Store on Friday morning, GrubHub’s current app version had a one-star rating. One-star reviews claimed Republicans were “not wanted” as customers and accused the Chicago company of political discrimination.
GrubHub shares closed Friday at $35.31, down 4.8%.
But the dustup is likely to have a limited effect, said Aaron Turner, an equity research analyst with Wedbush Securities.
“Investors are more focused on the possible ramifications of Mr. Trump’s policies on the tech sector rather than the knee-jerk reaction to an email intended to calm employees that may feel vulnerable after the conclusion of the election,” he said.
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