Whole Foods Board Decides Common Sense Ain't Common Enough: Bans Execs From Web Postings

from the common-sense-ain't-what-it-used-to-be dept

Wed, Nov 7th 2007 7:35am — Mike Masnick

Over the summer, there was some press coverage over the news that the CEO of Whole Foods had, for years, been posting to Yahoo message boards about his company under a fake name. It doesn't look like he did anything illegal, but it was certainly questionable from an ethical standpoint. Whole Foods' board has now responded by changing the company's "code of conduct" to ban execs from posting to non-company-sponsored web forums about company related news. In other words, the board felt the need to basically put what should be common sense into its code of conduct. Of course, the easy retort is that it clearly wasn't common sense to the CEO who engaged in it, but one would think with the ongoing SEC investigation he'd now be pretty aware of this fact, and changing the company's code of conduct is unlikely to have much of an impact.

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Filed Under: executives, message boards
Companies: whole foods

22 Comments

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Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased), 7 Nov 2007 @ 8:23am

Review
I am certain that every executive thoroughly reviews the code of conduct when they are hired and checks it annually for updates.
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- InkChemist, 7 Nov 2007 @ 8:41am
  
  Re: Review
  Yes, absolutely, so he can find every possible loophole and make his plans for getting rich off the efforts of others.
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  - The Man, 7 Nov 2007 @ 9:02am
    
    Re: Re: Review by InkChemist
    People really think like you? What a sad life. Stop being so worried about what others have accomplished and you will be happier. CEO's of companies got there by hard work. People in the free market make what they are worth based on merrit, real or projected. If you think you are worth more money, work harder and prove it. You will never achive anyting by sitting around and being negative about the amount of money other make. Get out and do something for yourself.
    
    PS. Now that I am your life coach, 10% of any increased salary you recive based on this advise should be forwarded to me.
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    - Michael Brutsch, 7 Nov 2007 @ 9:21am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Review by InkChemist
      You know, "The Man", it's this sort of useless, anonymous blather that has dropped TechDirt from our radar. They used to have some mild standards around here...
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    - Another Man, 7 Nov 2007 @ 9:43am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Review by InkChemist
      Here, here! I agree with your comment. But remember without InkChemist's line of thinking we would lose the entertainment value of his paranoid comments. Life is fair, it is just.
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    - niftyswell, 7 Nov 2007 @ 10:44am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Review by InkChemist
      Here Here...the American way isnt to be jealous or suspicious of success but to embrace the fact that those opportunities are available to anyone willing to work hard enough to succeed! Awesome response - I went from homeless child to chemical engineer and there are very few societies that provide that kind of opportunity. If you are willing to work two jobs on night shift to finance your school during the day you can be successful too!
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    - ehrichweiss, 7 Nov 2007 @ 12:57pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Review by InkChemist
      People really think like YOU? You're assuming that someone has a sad life because they realize that some CEOs, etc. are completely rotten to the core; you're assuming they are obsessing over this and aren't doing things for themselves. Not everything is love and light, sometimes there is pain, death and suffering, and ignoring it, or suggesting that one do so, is one of the stupidest things you can do in life.
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    - mike sved, 8 Jan 2008 @ 9:33am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Review by InkChemist
      must be a friend of the mackeys
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  - Boost, 7 Nov 2007 @ 10:30am
    
    Re: Re: Review
    I don't think the CEO of Whole foods needs to really worry about getting more money, let alone by unscroupulous (did I spell that correctly?) methods.
    
    Gotta love that cheese section.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Nov 2007 @ 9:03am

Probably just a way to have something in writing so if this situation arises again, they have grounds to fire the person. I know pretty obvious but I just wanted to state the obvious1
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- Mike (profile), 7 Nov 2007 @ 9:37am
  
  Re:
  Probably just a way to have something in writing so if this situation arises again, they have grounds to fire the person. I know pretty obvious but I just wanted to state the obvious1
  
  Again, you don't need grounds to fire someone. It's at will employment, meaning someone can be fired for any non-discriminatory reason.
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The Man, 7 Nov 2007 @ 9:06am

The reason for the change is obvious
I am suprised that Mike thinks the change in the companies code of conduct is not necessary. What is the first thing that will happen if they just fire the Exec for the obvious ethical breach? The wrongful term. lawyer will demand the documentation that specifically informs the employees that posting negative comments is against policy. They must have realized they did not have any documentaion and therefore writting it down for the next time this happens.
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- Mike (profile), 7 Nov 2007 @ 9:36am
  
  Re: The reason for the change is obvious
  What is the first thing that will happen if they just fire the Exec for the obvious ethical breach? The wrongful term. lawyer will demand the documentation that specifically informs the employees that posting negative comments is against policy.
  
  Last I checked Texas (where Whole Foods is based) is an at will employment state. In other words, Whole Foods can fire anyone with or without cause, as long as it's not discriminatory.
  
  In other words, there need not be a violation of policy to get fired.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Nov 2007 @ 9:42am

At will
At will only goes so far. Many a person has sued for wrongful termination under "at will" cercumstance.
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barrenwaste, 7 Nov 2007 @ 9:54am

Huh
I'm afraid I don't understand this. If it wasn't illegal where is the problem? After reading the story and considering his actions, I fail to see how it was ethically questionable. When you break it down, he was merely advertising for his company and his "barbed" remarks weren't that barbed. So he leaked information to the public via the internet and a pseudonym. Big deal, none of the information he leaked was sensitive or damaging to the company. Whole Foods should be shaking his hand and slapping his back. Has our paranoia reached such heights that merely speaking about what we do at work is ethically wrong?
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- Rather not say, 21 Dec 2008 @ 7:46am
  
  Re: Huh
  and while 1 hand slaps your back the foot kicks you in the ass. WFM treats it's employess ufairly, they can say the public line of how highly rated of a company they are, but having worked there I can tell you it's a front & a bad one at that
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Max Powers at http://ConsumerFight.com, 7 Nov 2007 @ 11:30am

Just covering all their bases
I think it's just a legal maneuver to cover future possible problems. I also agree with niftyswell that you make your own life, regardless of your past situations.
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Michael E. Rubin, GasPedal, 8 Nov 2007 @ 7:02am

Whole Foods misses the point
What an utterly ridiculous thing to do. When they need to be communicating directly with fans and advocates more than ever (real conversation), they shut themselves off to the world.
Here's a better idea: Train your employees to participate the right way.
More here:
http://www.damniwish.com/2007/11/whole-foods-mis.html
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Paul Costanzi, 14 Sep 2008 @ 2:37pm

Whole Foods and Policies
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- Paul Costanzi, 14 Sep 2008 @ 2:42pm
  
  Re: Whole Foods and Policies
  Being a former employee of Whole Foods I saw first hand how ignorant and defamatory Leaders are. Being separated and not being able to defend myself AT ALL I felt like I was being discriminated against. I wasn't even allowed to hear or read any comments I was allegedly accused for.
  
  Whole Foods may be a nice store to shop, but to work there is like working for a dictatorship. One slightest infraction and you are gone...no questions, not judge, jury or court. Just a noose.
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  - Pa, 3 Feb 2010 @ 12:39pm
    
    Re: Re: Whole Foods and Policies
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Supplements from Foods, 21 Feb 2009 @ 5:25am

Whole Foods Board Decides Common Sense Ain't Common Enough: Bans Execs From Web Postings
A Canadian company, Naturally Nova Scotia, makes supplements from foods instead of synthetics. The have vitamin C from fruit, herbal tinctures, green drinks, vitamin D3, and others.
Supplements from Foods
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