In the tech industry, where companies often compete for top talent by promising fulfilling work with broad missions to change the world for the better, Basecamp and Coinbase’s decisions are unusual. By declaring their companies are focused only on their software products, they’re distancing themselves from more idealistic claims about tech’s role in society. Dozens of staffers left Coinbase after its announcement.
“We are not a social impact company,” Fried wrote. “We’re in the business of making software.”
Basecamp’s founders have previously weighed in on workplace issues. Fried, along with co-founder David Heinemeier Hansson, have authored several books on topics such as managing a remote workforce—Basecamp was fully remote even before the pandemic—and how to reduce organizational chaos within a company.
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