Chuck Robbins is the CEO of the company. In an all-hands meeting with employees, Robbins called for new gun laws, including additional background checks.
The company held an internal livestream on June 2. Robbins talked about the massacre at Robb Elementary School, which claimed 21 victims, 19 of which were third and fourth graders.
Robbins urged politicians to protect kids and schools. Robbins said he hoped Congress would act like it did when Russia invaded Ukraine, according to one employee who watched the livestream.
The minimum age to buy an assault rifle in the US will be raised from 18 to 21 under a bill passed by the House. The bill doesn't have much of a chance in the Senate, which is evenly divided along party lines when it comes to new gun legislation. A bill that has less than 60 votes can be blocked by Republicans.
Tech executives have spoken up on issues like immigration and racial justice in the past, but they've been more reluctant to engage on the most controversial issues to avoid upsetting employees and customers Robbins commentary is notable due to the fact thatCisco has staffers and clients all over the map and a culture that is seen as more conservative than many of its younger Silicon Valley peers. There were 79,500 full-time employees at the end of the year.
Employees were arguing their positions on the issue after Robbins made his statements. People familiar with the matter say that an executive in human resources tried to keep the discussion nonpartisan.
Some employees were angry with Robbins, accusing him and the company of trying to take away their Second Amendment rights. Robbins was defended by another group of employees who said his statements were being misconstrued.
Robbins confirmed elements of the discussion with CNBC on Wednesday. He said that thepoliticization of gun laws made him angry.
Robbins told CNBC he felt the need to speak out because children in schools are being slaughtered. The issue hits close to home for him because he has a grandchild who is about to start first grade.
Robbins has commented on the Uvalde massacre before. After the shooting in late May, the chief people officer of the company called on Congress to pass sensible gun control legislation.
Robbins said that Congress needs to act. Our current plan doesn't work.
In the private sector, the issue is gaining traction. 200 corporate leaders have signed a petition urging the Senate to act on gun safety legislation.
If employees wanted to take a day off after the Uvalde shooting, they could.
An email was sent to CNBC by aCisco spokesman.
We want our employees to feel safe at work and in their communities. We are devastated by the tragedies that have happened over the last few weeks. In our company check-ins, if employees choose to get involved, they can learn from outside experts and access resources. Promoting healthy dialogue and giving employees the chance to express their views and support for issues that are important to them is what Powering an Inclusive Future for All starts with.
Robbins has engaged on hot-button issues in the past.
Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Robbins and executives held a 90-minute "teach-in" to discuss structural racism, implicit bias, police brutality and "shared responsibility" of employees and the public. Robbins sent many companywide emails about the importance of accessing mental health treatment and finding a support network after a string of suicides.
Jordan Novet is a reporter for CNBC.
The cloud business is growing and the supply chain is improving.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
