At least Soroya came out into the open with her allegations (hostile workplace and intimidation)--AFTER she was cut loose. She even got a nice settlement out if it. One can't get a settlement by hiding in the shadows as an "unnamed insider"
. This is a dumb move by the Republicans as the Democrats will cite just as many workplaces requiring political donations to Republican causes. This won't get either party anywhere.
There may be more here in that a CEO may feel that one party is more beneficial to them than the other and that such donations are good for business. Hence the pressure to donate, not for politics, necessarily, but a CEO feels that certain Senators from one party have been far more hospitable and even helpful or have positions that line up with the interests of his business. Then, of course, don't we all know that some Senator will coyly let it be know, in the manner of a Yes, Minister episode, that it would be so nice if said CEO would remember this Senator and, even better, also include fellow elected officials of the party and even see if the party itself could be supported. After all, the Republicans are Rupert Murdoch's, with very little favors left over for other media CEO's. IMHO, I do think the Dems have positions that by coincidence do work better for Dish, such as Net Neutrality, etc., but many other companies also have desires that coincide with positions taken by Dems.
Every company pressures it employees and management to donate to political entities or even non-profit charities. I know of someone who works at a college and his supervisor sends out emails soliciting for MS, and if you contribute, you are "in" and if you don't (or too small a donation) you can find yourself given an unfair load of work, find yourself with new crappy duties that weren't yours--all through the proper process, of course, it's just a matter of who is going to do and do with less in the department--and find yourself not invited or included in certain "parties" and celebrations, or you hold down the fort while the rest of us go to the campus faculty/staff party.
I also know of someone else whose CEO was on the board of United Way, and he ALWAYS sent out the word/memo (in the days before email) to solicit donations. That person was like #3 in the company and because of her daily access to the CEO, the CEO was very blunt about how he expected EVERYONE to contribute and how low he thought of any who didn't contribute and they would be first out the door when the time comes and whose status was LESS than any those who contributed. And, of course, his top managers (including his #3) were expected to contribute, and handsomely, without even any solicitation. It was just announced to them that it was time to donate to United Way.
This stuff goes on everyday at just about every workplace in the country. So, nothing particularly evil at Dish. However, it does stink, and should not be happening in the first place, but while the law is there to, in most cases, address unfair treatment, who is gonna stick their neck out? Alos, in the case of a department manager being told to cease solicitations from corporate above him, that manager goes on a witch hunt, and you'd better hope he doesn't think it is you who tattled. There are ways of retaliating that can withstand a review by union or even govt. labor boards.
I totally see Claude's difficult position. It is very unwise to defy such solicitations. I wish we all could really fix this.
