After President Donald Trump’s executive order banning people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States, several CEOs of top companies in the country sent letters to their employees, reassuring them that they are standing behind them during this difficult time.
According to Buzzfeed, Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote the memo to employees from Washington D.C. where he has been taking meetings with top lawyers. In his letter, Cook said that he shares their concerns and that the ban is “not a policy we support.”
“There are employees at Apple who are directly affected by yesterday’s immigration order,” said Cook. “Apple will do everything we can to support them…Apple is open. Open to everyone, no matter where they come from, what language they speak, who they love or how they worship.”
Meanwhile, Microsoft President Brad Smith also sent a letter to company employees last Saturday in response to President Trump’s executive order on immigration, noting that 76 employees were directly affected by the ban. In the memo which was posted on LinkedIn, Smith said that the company believes in the protecting legitimate and law-abiding refugees “whose very lives may be at stake” due to the immigration proceedings.
“We’re committed as a company to working with all of our employees and their families,” said Smith, adding that they will do everything they can to provide fast and effective legal service and assistance.
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz also sent a letter to all employees on Sunday, saying that he hears their concerns and that they are doing everything possible to “support and help them to navigate through this confusing period.”
“I can assure you that we will do whatever it takes to support you, our partners, to realize your own dreams and achieve your own opportunities,” wrote Schultz.
In the memo, he also revealed the specific actions the company is taking to ensure employees that Starbucks will not be standing by nor staying silent as the new administration’s new mandates take effect. Schultz said that the company will continue to hire refugees and will focus on those individuals who have served with U.S. troops as interpreters and support personnel in various countries where the military has asked for support. Starbucks will also “build bridges, not walls” with Mexico and will continue to invest in the country.
President Trump’s executive order temporarily halts the U.S. refugee program for 120 days. The order has blocked all people from Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen from entering the U.S. for 90 days, while refugees from Syria have been indefinitely blocked.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on Trump as he warns businesses of border tax if jobs are moved out of the U.S.
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