Nadella faces online uproar with his foot-in-mouth comment

Nadella's statement, understandably caused an uproar online with many condemning his remarks

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Thursday caused an uproar when at the Grace Hopper Conference's Celebration of Women in Computing he said that women should depend on 'good karma’ instead of asking for a raise.

 

According to media reports, Nadella while addressing the crowd at the conference had said, "It’s not really about asking for the raise, but knowing and having faith that the system will actually give you the right raises as you go along."

 

"That's good karma. It will come back," Nadella added. "That's the kind of person that I want to trust, that I want to give more responsibility to."

 

Not surprisingly, his statement came in for widespread criticism leading the CEO to retract his statement and issue the following apology:
 

Was inarticulate re how women should ask for raise. Our industry must close gender pay gap so a raise is not needed because of a bias #GHC14

— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) October 9, 2014

Disparity in pay packages within the tech industry is an issue that has been debated for a very long time. Tech companies, in general, hire fewer women and typically pay them less than their male counterparts. Given that context, such a remark passed by the CEO of one of the biggest tech companies in the world has come as rude shock for many.

 

Nadella’s statement, understandably, received widespread condemnation. Here is a look at a few comments on micro blogging website Twitter:

@satyanadella "not asking for a raise is good karma. It will come around at some time" - so don't agree... And so does @MariaKlawe #GHC14

— Ingrid Bernaudin (@IngridBernaudin) October 9, 2014

Lots of murmurs in the crowd as @satyanadella says that if you don't ask for a raise, you'll eventually get fair pay #ghc14

— Lauren Schaefer (@Lauren_Schaefer) October 9, 2014

Nadella (Microsoft CEO): women shouldn't ask for raises, should trust that the system will compensate appropriately in the end #ghc14

— Rebecca Bish (@Becky_ABC) October 9, 2014

@satyanadella how about take gender out of the equation PERIOD! people should be judged on work only! Doing it any other way is sexist

— Derek (@derekcwilkinson) October 9, 2014

.@satyanadella so you're just saying "trust the system that created the structural inequity" in a slightly different way?

— Mark McBride (@mccv) October 9, 2014

@satyanadella @selenalarson raises are always needed to account for cost of living and experience. you didn't get where you are by karma.

— deathandfood (@deathandfood) October 9, 2014

Nadella has also released the following memo to Microsoft employees which has also been published for public on Microsoft’s website:

 

All – Today I was interviewed on stage by Maria Klawe at the Grace Hopper Conference – I encourage you to watch the video. It was great to spend time with so many women passionate about technology. I was honored to be a part of it and I left the conference energized and inspired.

 

Toward the end of the interview, Maria asked me what advice I would offer women who are not comfortable asking for pay raises. I answered that question completely wrong. Without a doubt I wholeheartedly support programs at Microsoft and in the industry that bring more women into technology and close the pay gap. I believe men and women should get equal pay for equal work. And when it comes to career advice on getting a raise when you think it’s deserved, Maria’s advice was the right advice. If you think you deserve a raise, you should just ask.

 

I said I was looking forward to the Grace Hopper Conference to learn, and I certainly learned a valuable lesson. I look forward to speaking with you at our monthly Q&A next week and am happy to answer any question you have.

 

Satya