WeWork is a $20 billion company that provides shared workplaces for startups and entrepreneurs.
But the office space is going vegetarian by enforcing a no-meat policy on its employees that is leaving a bad taste in their mouths.
Business Insider reported that WeWork sent an email to its 6,000 global staff members stating they will no longer be able to expense meals that include red meat, poultry, or pork.
Carnivorous employees will be disappointed to find the policy will also affect company functions where hors d'oeuvres are served.
Co-founder Miguel McKelvey confirmed that all meat options will be conspicuously left off the menu at the company's upcoming internal "Summer Camp" retreat.
The new mandate born out of environmental concerns would also affect the "Honesty Market" food and beverage kiosks located in some of their 400 co-working spaces.
McKelvey explained the reason for the new policy in the internal memo.
New research indicates that avoiding meat is one of the biggest things an individual can do to reduce their personal environmental impact, even more than switching to a hybrid car.
Skeptical observers commented on the unpopular diet restriction.
Even some vegetarians are not on board.
If anything, the policy encouraged defiance.
It caused others to hope for the company's demise.
Could this lead to other strict rules controlling the lives of employees?
McKelvey told the New York Times that he is not strictly a vegetarian, but more of a "reducetarian."
I try to consume less and be aware of the decisions I'm making.
Not just food, but single-use plastics, and fossil fuels and energy.
He believes that enforcing his own personal values is an important component to being a successful corporate leader in today's business world.
Companies have greater responsibility to their team members and to the world these days.
We're the ones with the power.
Large employers are the ones that can move the needle on issues.
People criticized McKelvey for having an uninformed, overly simplistic, fundamentally flawed viewpoint.
Despite any good intentions, the strict policy is a hard one for people to swallow.
H/T - Bloomberg, Twitter, BusinessInsider
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