new info:
Roger Vogel, chairman, president and CEO of Vante, said the decision for Smith to step down was mutual. Vogel said he was “shocked” by the video, which he first discovered when people emailed him a link.
“We obviously found it very disturbing,” Vogel said. “We respect everybody’s ability to share their opinions in the public square and we have a very diverse workforce with a diverse set of opinions. We expect employees to behave in a professional manner that’s commensurate with their positions, and discuss their opinions in a civil fashion. We thought what he did was inappropriate.”
Vogel said the company has no stance on the gay-marriage issue but has always had a “good relationship” with Chick-fil-A. He said the company will consider contacting the employee that Smith ambushed in an attempt to mend fences.
It is not Vogel’s responsibility to mend fences. It was not an act of his company. (wonder if he is worried about being sued)...but it is a nice thought of him to reach out.
Good! Rachael should be given his old job and he should be given hers! They are each suited for it.
Oh man, who hasn’t done something incredibly stupid that they later regretted? I feel for the guy but that showed an incredible lack of critical thinking skills. The company had to let him go.
I thought his ‘apology’ video was an attempt to position himself for a new job. It is possible Rahm Emmanuel might have a position for a guy with those approved Chicago style values.
I was a managing director in a corporation. What you do, both on and off the job reflects on you as an individual, and to a degree on the corporation who hired you. You are a testament to their good judgement. At least, that’s how both I and the corporation I worked for looked at it.
Sure, we have a lot of fun amongst ourselves both on and off the job. It made for a great working relationship. But our “front” to the outside, both when working or at leisure, was always meant to reflect our position. It’s maturity, responsibility and good business.
It just seems to me, this Adam M. Smith has hit a few bumps along the process of maturing, and is more concerned with himself than those he represents. This is what Roger Vogel obviously saw, and didn’t like one bit. I can’t blame him.
On the contrary, he IS the CEO and the jerk was under his employ. I think his actions are that of a real man, one who knows how to behave properly and take responsibility. I have a lot of respect for someone like that.
Thanks for the update. I appreciate the fact that Vante was able to recognize inappropriate behavior and make a decisive change when it was necessary.
I doubt that smith will ever recognize what he threw away.
We thought what he did was inappropriate.
I bet Vogel is glad that douchebag is out of the company. It's hard to deal with employees who can hurt a company.