07/11/2020
Open Letter from the Founder & CEO of ProformaIT, Inc.
I have been made aware of comments on social media against our staff and/or colleagues for their rightful exercise of their First Amendment Rights. This is not the first time that this new trend in “reporting” employees to their employers, in an effort to ruin their lives professionally over posts on social media regarding social or political positions they hold personally, has hit home for our organization.
In particular, regarding the recent efforts of the “Cancel Culture” targeted against Goya Foods, one of our Latina colleagues, my Creative Director, commented her support for Goya Foods and thanked them for their commitment to the health and nutrition of families throughout this nation and globally. In return for her comment expressing this support, a person named “Robert Espeleta” threatened that he would be sending her comment to her employer, ProformaIT, because “Many in palm beach are democrats”. That “report” would, of course, come to me.
I am not interested in hiding the identity or being vague about the persons who make these pathetic threats in an effort to silence the views of my staff on social media. If you are willing to make public attempts at threatening my staff, I will publicly identify you to let you know that we won’t be intimidated and that we believe strongly that each and every American has the God-Given Right to express their views without the threat of losing their jobs; so long as those expressions do not harm others or our Company and are within the confines of the law of the land. Nothing expressed by our staff would ever require close to an investigation thus far, and I am no longer going to quietly handle these issues while the bullies get free reign to terrorize my staff.
My personal message to Mr. Espeleta, and any other members of this misguided “Cancel Culture” and online bullying mob who attempt to use social media as a way to threaten our staff or colleagues is this:
ProformaIT is a woman, veteran-owned business with a team of diverse, intelligent members whose ethnic backgrounds span from South Korea, to Latin America, to Europe, and to the Caribbean. As Founder and CEO, I am proud of our diversity. I am forever grateful for our ability to share our opinions without recourse, to communicate in multiple languages, to create beautiful product for our clients. We come from all over the world, literally, and with that culmination of diverse backgrounds we have, what I believe, is an expanded perspective on how we treat others and how we see the world.
That being said, the threat of “tattling” against one of our staff or making implications that their job is suddenly at risk because they exercise their right to free speech is not acceptable. These threats of vindictive actions against our team, based on positive comments of support for a company that is under fire for comments by their CEO is not tolerated by myself, or this Company under any circumstance. In essence, the public does not make human resource decisions for my company, and I fully support my staff when they speak their minds on issues that are important to them. Whether I agree with their positions or not, is immaterial.
As CEO, I support our staff and I care about their families. They are MY family. I respect their viewpoints and positions on a myriad of issues, whether we agree or not. I feel confident that they make decisions that are in the best interest of ProformaIT and because of that, I feel the need to clearly express this sentiment:
My staff has my back and I have theirs. I will not stand in silence and will not tolerate the bullying or threats made to any of our staff’s jobs on social media or in any fashion or form. I don’t cower to bullies, and I don’t expect my staff to be silenced through fear tactics, either. Personally, I’d love to see more companies support their staff against this type of bullying, despotic behavior. Perhaps this open letter will help.
ProformaIT staff and colleagues are American citizens and have a Constitutional right to support whatever politician, social program, religious endeavor, or advocate for whatever company they choose, without recourse from ProformaIT. Furthermore, as a woman veteran, I find it not only disheartening, but deeply concerning that some American citizens feel that their personal, political feelings should be used as a weapon against my staff, or the staff of other companies for that matter. It’s intolerant and ignorant and unacceptable. As a company, we do NOT support “Cancel Culture” or efforts to use online platforms to instill fear or worry or stress in our staff or our staff’s families. Be warned, your “reports” that waste my time will be met with public admonishment. Grow up. Agree to disagree. Stop attempting to harm my staff. Mr. Espeleta, Sir. You can have a “Coke and a smile” and don’t bother wasting my time again.
I am proud that my Creative Director spoke her heart in an appropriate and non-aggressive way, and provided positive, vocal support for a company like Goya Foods and their CEO, Mr. Robert Unanue. The praise for the products and philanthropy by Goya Foods has been a bipartisan effort for many years, from the former President Obama (under whom I had the honor to serve) and his wife Michelle, to our current sitting Commander in Chief, President Trump. I also would like to say that Goya Foods has my support and unwavering loyalty as a proud long-time consumer of Goya Foods products. If this position is not in alignment with you or your business values, you are welcome to find similar services elsewhere. But know, that no matter your political or social policy position, ProformaIT will respect you and your First Amendment Rights.
Signed,
/s/ Brooke Knight
Brooke Knight
Founder & CEO
ProformaIT, Inc.
