THE BIG IDEA
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When we broke the news of a far-reaching email chain within Microsoft alleging that the company’s HR department consistently failed to investigate sexual harassment and discrimination claims, many were puzzled how an organization lauded for its culture could still be so deeply flawed.
Women on the chain shared that they were asked to organize dinner reservations for male colleagues (despite a technical role), and in another instance, male team members repeatedly told them to sit on his lap in front of HR executives. While the breadth of the allegations contained in the nearly 100 pages of email we reviewed was shocking, the news reminded us of something we already knew: progress toward gender equality at work must start at the top.
At Microsoft, women only account for four out of 14 board members and 19.7 percent of company leadership. If executives are serious about change, they should make sure women’s voices aren’t confined to an email thread.
COME HANG OUT WITH US
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For many businesses in the UK and elsewhere, Brexit isn’t something that may or may not happen. It already happened. The 2016 referendum had irreversible consequences for businesses, regardless of Brexit’s final shape.
A select group of Quartz members will join our finance team in London—Jason Karaian, Eshe Nelson, and John Detrixhe—for a breakfast and a breakdown on what’s really at stake in Britain. Become a Quartz member and you could join them.
April 17, 8:30 a.m – 10:30 a.m
EDITORS’ PICK
While a typical popular ramen shop is abuzz with conversation and movement, at an Ichiran location the kitchen is out of view and hearing, the prying eyes of fellow diners can’t be seen, and servers speak little if at all, delivering food ordered off of a written order form created for minimal exchange in respectful silence. – Ephrat Livni, “A cult Japanese ramen shop is making New York’s Time Square a place for silent contemplation.”
SOMETHING WE LEARNED FROM OUR READERS
I’m throwing another twist into this conversation. Working on operations architecture for an oil services company I put them all on Microsoft 365 [sic], and found that Microsoft’s flagship product works better on a Mac. So they all went out and bought Macs because it did not work as well on PC, was not as seamless and created a lot of dysfunction.
Is Apple over-engineered? I don’t think so. I think it gets rid of the functional problems PCs have and with the prominent use of iPhones, Apple keeps everyone connected on a seamless level.
This commercial is like a lot of projects I have been on. All the things going on in people’s lives have to be considered and tech should concede to accommodating these needs. – Erin H., “Apple’s new ad highlights everything wrong with the company right now”
OUR PICKS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Quartzy reporter Jenni Avins recommends the Dresden in Los Angeles’s Los Feliz neighborhood: “Whenever we have Los Angeles first-timers visiting, we head to see Marty and Elayne perform their amazing duets—he on the drums and upright bass, she on the piano and the flute—at the Dresden in Los Feliz. They’ve been at it for nearly 40 years (!) and have chemistry and coordinating costumes to spare. If you really want to see them bring down the house (which you may recognize from Swingers) wait until the booths and bar are full and request The Doors’ ‘Light My Fire.’ These two are a true LA institution.”
ONE MORE THING
🌱 Is better-tasting pesto the most important invention to ever come out of MIT? Probably.
Have a great week.
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