Just last night some tech workers were talking about what a friend had said of working at Uber. The culture there allows "toe stepping" so that for example if someone is on vacation it is okay to take over work that had been assigned to them. Also they practice "always on" which means that any time of any day maybe required to meet company goals. These two features alone are damning enough, but when combined with a culture of back stabbing among high level managers the results are atrocious. This cannot end well.
So after such a tragedy, what does Uber do? They deny the family's benefits claim, of course:
Uber denied the benefits claim through its insurance carrier. In California, workers’ compensation usually does not cover psychiatric injuries until after six months of employment. Joseph Thomas had worked slightly less than five months at Uber when he killed himself.
But there is an exception to the six-month rule. It doesn’t apply “if the psychiatric injury is caused by a sudden and extraordinary employment condition,” according to California law.
That's implying causation. Two children without a father and a widow with a broken heart happened. Why would anybody want to scramble to assume financial liability for such an incident?
Do I feel remorse for people starving in Venezuela? No, as I have done nothing to directly cause the starvation. Nobody's agony should have a claim on your financial resources or your property.
That depends on how you look at the situation. His father and brother, who knew both the deceased and his general situation far better than you do, have made statements that strongly suggest otherwise:
“He was always the smartest guy in the room,” said his father, Joe Thomas. But while working at Uber, “he went down the tubes. He became someone with very little confidence in himself. The guy just fell apart.”
“It’s hard to explain, but he wasn’t himself at all,” said Zecole Thomas. “He’d say things like, ‘My boss doesn’t like me.’ His personality changed totally; he was horribly concerned about his work, to the point it was almost unbelievable. He was saying he couldn’t do anything right.”
> Uber denied the benefits claim through its insurance carrier.
That seems like an extremely terrible move, even if Uber might be technically correct. Deciding to do that makes them look awful, and I think that's what matters most, given everything else contributing to their public image right now. It could have been a great opportunity to look magnanimous.
This could happen in any profession or culture. Uber are just the ones in the spotlight right now.
The real issue here is unfortunately ONCE AGAIN, a lack of mental health awareness and services.
A psychiatrist has diagnosed someone with "high anxiety"...why aren't they are being subscribed treatment in the form of therapy or medicine? He went to ask for help, and was told something wasn't going well...let's do something to remedy that!
If assistance was in fact prescribed and Thomas denied that it would help him, the fault then is placed on social awareness and acceptance regarding men receiving mental health care.
As someone who has gone through my own suicidal thoughts and had therapy and medication literally save my life, this infuriates me to no end.
And what happens if you feel you have to leave your job? You lose your insurance, or go on disability and have a target on your back for the next 10 years of your career.
Just last night some tech workers were talking about what a friend had said of working at Uber. The culture there allows "toe stepping" so that for example if someone is on vacation it is okay to take over work that had been assigned to them. Also they practice "always on" which means that any time of any day maybe required to meet company goals. These two features alone are damning enough, but when combined with a culture of back stabbing among high level managers the results are atrocious. This cannot end well.
> if someone is on vacation it is okay to take over work that had been assigned to them
I really hope this means it's okay to do that with discussion before the employee goes on vacation. If not, holy crap that really does sound awful.
So after such a tragedy, what does Uber do? They deny the family's benefits claim, of course:
Uber denied the benefits claim through its insurance carrier. In California, workers’ compensation usually does not cover psychiatric injuries until after six months of employment. Joseph Thomas had worked slightly less than five months at Uber when he killed himself.
But there is an exception to the six-month rule. It doesn’t apply “if the psychiatric injury is caused by a sudden and extraordinary employment condition,” according to California law.
Well naturally. Why would you give free money to people?
There are other factors at play. Like, you know, concern for the next of kin and an expected general sense of remorse, for example.
Remorse for what?
Like, you know -- leaving 2 children without a father, and a widow with a broken heart. That sort of thing.
That's implying causation. Two children without a father and a widow with a broken heart happened. Why would anybody want to scramble to assume financial liability for such an incident?
Do I feel remorse for people starving in Venezuela? No, as I have done nothing to directly cause the starvation. Nobody's agony should have a claim on your financial resources or your property.
Why would anybody want to scramble to assume financial liability for such an incident?
Because it's the right thing to do (in this case).
> Because it's the right thing to do (in this case).
Please explain how it's the right thing to do. Somebody committed suicide, was not covered by life insurance, didn't get life insurance.
Please explain how it's the right thing to do.
There's more to "doing the right thing" than simply "doing the bare minimum that the law requires you to do."
Uber isn't the guy that left two kids behind.
That depends on how you look at the situation. His father and brother, who knew both the deceased and his general situation far better than you do, have made statements that strongly suggest otherwise:
“He was always the smartest guy in the room,” said his father, Joe Thomas. But while working at Uber, “he went down the tubes. He became someone with very little confidence in himself. The guy just fell apart.”
“It’s hard to explain, but he wasn’t himself at all,” said Zecole Thomas. “He’d say things like, ‘My boss doesn’t like me.’ His personality changed totally; he was horribly concerned about his work, to the point it was almost unbelievable. He was saying he couldn’t do anything right.”
Is "doing the right thing" just paying lots of money? With Uber having done nothing wrong?
What are you advocating for?
Are you reaching into your own pocket?
That's not the point.
What is the point? Why would Uber uniquely be obliged to pay?
As another poster said, you seem to be implying fault.
> Because it's the right thing to do (in this case).
In your opinion, uber obviously disagrees. Why is life insurance tied to a company in the first place?
Why is life insurance tied to a company in the first place?
Again, my focus is on the suffering that has been caused. Not statutory or contractual liability.
Isn't it basically universal practice to deny life insurance in the event of suicide? Otherwise you're paying people to off themselves...
> Uber denied the benefits claim through its insurance carrier.
That seems like an extremely terrible move, even if Uber might be technically correct. Deciding to do that makes them look awful, and I think that's what matters most, given everything else contributing to their public image right now. It could have been a great opportunity to look magnanimous.
This story is heartbreaking.
This could happen in any profession or culture. Uber are just the ones in the spotlight right now.
The real issue here is unfortunately ONCE AGAIN, a lack of mental health awareness and services.
A psychiatrist has diagnosed someone with "high anxiety"...why aren't they are being subscribed treatment in the form of therapy or medicine? He went to ask for help, and was told something wasn't going well...let's do something to remedy that! If assistance was in fact prescribed and Thomas denied that it would help him, the fault then is placed on social awareness and acceptance regarding men receiving mental health care.
As someone who has gone through my own suicidal thoughts and had therapy and medication literally save my life, this infuriates me to no end.
And what happens if you feel you have to leave your job? You lose your insurance, or go on disability and have a target on your back for the next 10 years of your career.
And another condemnation of Uber.
When it came out what Uber was doing to track Lyft drivers that was kind of the nail in the coffin for me.
There's just too much. Companies will always make someone angry, but there's just TOO MUCH.
I will never use Uber, and I'll encourage everyone I know to avoid it as well. Do we REALLY want this company getting a monopoly?
Could you imagine how unethical they would be if they were the only game in town.
How could Uber become such an awful company?
It's terrible that this young man committed suicide, but it there any evidence that it was Uber's fault?
Is the racism claim based purely on lack of hiring diversity? If Thomas was given unforgiving or impossible tasks, why would he refuse to quit?