Basecamp Faces Employee Departures After Political Discussion Ban

In the wake of a recently implemented prohibition on political discourse, a significant number of Basecamp employees are choosing to leave the company. Approximately one-third of the 60-person workforce has reportedly accepted buyout offers, with many attributing their decisions to the newly established company policies.

CEO Announces New Restrictions

On Monday, Jason Fried, CEO of Basecamp, announced via a blog post that employees would no longer be permitted to engage in open discussions concerning “societal and political matters” within the workplace.

Fried articulated his reasoning, stating, “Discussions even tangentially linked to politics, advocacy, or broader societal issues invariably devolve into unproductive conflict.” He further explained the concern that employees might feel pressured to either avoid participation, fearing complicity, or engage, risking becoming a target.

Key Personnel Among Those Departing

The scale of departures from Basecamp is noteworthy. Reports circulating on Twitter indicate that the heads of design, marketing, and customer support are all set to leave the organization.

Furthermore, the entire iOS development team appears to have resigned collectively, and a substantial portion of the departing employees have dedicated several years of service to the company.

See related reports:

• https://twitter.com/ThatDetroitAndy/status/1388195273336401920
• https://twitter.com/sstephenson/status/1388146129284603906

Similar Policy at Coinbase

Basecamp’s decision mirrors a similar approach taken by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong late last year. Armstrong also discouraged internal debates surrounding “causes or political candidates,” asserting that such discussions diverted attention from the company’s primary objectives.

Following this policy change, around 60 out of Coinbase’s 1,200 employees opted for buyouts, making the employee turnover at Basecamp appear comparatively more substantial.

Criticism of the New Rule

Like Coinbase, Basecamp has faced criticism for restricting employee expression on important issues, particularly those that disproportionately affect marginalized groups.

Establishing boundaries for “political” topics proves challenging, especially for employees who are non-white or identify as LGBTQ+. For these individuals, issues often perceived as political by some – such as the Black Lives Matter movement – are deeply personal and intrinsically linked to their lived experiences.

It is not accidental that these stances against “divisive politics” in the workplace originate from white male technology leaders.

Further Clarification from CTO

“Should you have any uncertainty regarding the appropriateness of a discussion forum or topic, please seek clarification before posting,” advised Basecamp CTO David Heinemeier Hansson in a corresponding blog post, echoing Fried’s sentiments.

Underlying Tensions

According to reporting by Platformer, Fried’s initial announcement did not fully represent the situation. Basecamp employees indicated that the core of the issue stemmed from internal conversations about the company’s dedication to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, rather than generalized political debates.

Fried’s post did allude to a specific point of contention, mentioning the disbanding of an employee-led DEI program.

“Our focus is on developing project management, team communication, and email software,” Fried stated. “We are not a social impact organization.”