The concept of "Ohana" is often conjured up by the billionaire CEO of the company. The idea of family bonds encourages people to take care of each other.
The appropriateness of that concept came into question after an all-hands call at the company in which Benioff dodged questions about layoffs.
The software giant said it would cut 10% of its workforce because customers were taking a more measured approach to their purchasing decision.
In an email to staff about the layoffs, Benioff evoked the idea of family bonds.
He wrote that the employees were being affected. They are not enemies. They're a family. If you can, please contact them. Now more than ever, offer the compassion and love they and their families need. Please support your leadership, including me, as we work through this difficult time.
Employees were not feeling the "Ohana" after his speech. One employee asked a question on an internal Slack channel.
The phrase "Ohana?" should be retired given how little this call has addressed the layoffs.
Is it possible that many of the 10s of thousands of people on this call could be getting things done instead of listening to an audiotape?
In his speech, he referred to the layoffs in a way that likened them to death.
We always say goodbye to everyone who has died during the year at the beginning of the year. It is very similar, in a lot of ways, to the loss of our trusted colleagues and our managers. We need to acknowledge that and give ourselves time to grieve.
In Hawaiian culture, Ohana represents the idea that families are bound together, and that family members are responsible for each other. Beniofff made sure that "Ohana" was in the company's foundation.
Fortune asked for comments from the company.
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