The HP Way 2.0

theodp writes "How do you replace your Chief Pretexting Officer? HP CEO Mark Hurd announced that Joel Hyatt, an individual of 'exceptional judgment and outstanding character,' has joined HP's Board of Directors, filling one of the seats vacated during last year's boardroom scandal. Hyatt, who drew the ire of a judge over the illegal, Philadelphia-like treatment of an attorney at Hyatt's namesake law firm who was diagnosed with AIDS, was also appointed to HP's HR and Compensation Committee. Presumably, the HP womenfolk won't hold it against Hyatt that he reportedly once advocated keeping alma mater Dartmouth female-free. Hyatt acknowledged making mistakes that he's learned from, but said he was not eager to share them."

Re:No Problem with Dartmouth Bit

[necro81]

I won't deny that same-sex educational environments can be advantageous and help students focus on their work - avoiding a lot of adolescent nonsense. In the case of Dartmouth co-education, however, the arguments were rarely pedagogical. The arguments, particularly from disgruntled alumni, were more along the lines of "this is our treehouse, girls have cooties."

I don't like business at HP

[solar_blitz]

I had a good friend once who was a huge executive at HP. She was an Australian woman whose work in areas like Hong Kong and Japan earned the company millions. When she was transferred to the main headquarters she lived across the street from us. She was (and still is) an awesome individual who I have enormous respect and admiration for.

When the HP/Compaq merger was approved, her days became numbered. They didn't even give her a pink slip directly, they transferred her over to an office in the Southwest - Tennessee or Georgia, I don't remember - and then fired her. It reminds me of the scene in The Godfather Part II when Michael kills his brother and throws him into Lake Tahoe. Afterwards they couldn't afford living in the United States - her husband had already retired - and they had to move back to Australia. She knew it was going to happen, too, it was just one big waiting game.

And since then, I've never really thought too highly of "The HP Way". The most recent issues with HP, in my own humble opinion, are no surprise to me. I think HP has become much more of an "evil empire" than either Google or Microsoft.

Re:Philadelphia like treatmeant?

[b0s0z0ku]

kipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia [wikipedia.org] says its the city of brotherly love. Other than being ranked 6th most dangerous city, I really don't understand the phrase from the post.

There was a film called Philadelphia about a successful attorney who was fired from his law firm when he was dying of AIDS in the 80s.

Re:This guy may be a sleazeball...

[Acer500]

Indeed. I read the linked "ire of a judge" article, and Mr Hyatt's case does come across as heartless, but not something he can't have learned from.

Summarizing TFA:

- the fired person, Clarence Cain, was the head of the Philadelphia office, until he contracted AIDS. He was a gay African-American, so he was in the danger population for the disease. Mr Hyatt pointed out that he actually hired a gay in the first place, so I don't understand why it's discriminatory to fire him.

I do understand it's callous and insensitive to fire someone who has a terminal illness without trying to offer help or a compromise. I don't know what's the standard procedure in those cases, but it's clear that Mr Cain was unfit to continue working (not because of AIDS per se, but because of the physical condition he was in from all the associated diseases - the article describes him during the trial:

"the 38-year-old Mr. Cain, draped in an old suit several sizes too large, testified. His voice was weak, his gait halting, his features emaciated"

TFA also mentions Mr Hyatt and Mr Cain didn't get along too well before his illness:

Even before he became ill, Mr. Cain fought with his superiors. Once he uttered obscenities about Mr. Hyatt at a firm dinner. But he lost his post only after the AIDS diagnosis in July 1987.

Something that surprises me, but I guess it shouldn't considering the nature of US healthcare, was the sharp decline in his living conditions following his illness. Either he had nothing saved up or he spent everything on healthcare, but I wouldn't blame that on Mr Hyatt as the article does (I do think they should have offered help, but it's not his responsibility).

The callous bit is this Mr. Cain was offered an entry-level position at half the pay or a $12,000 severance package (Is severance not regulated as it is in my home country, where it is a percentage of earnings up to the point?).

I'm not happy at all with HP lately (I work with a local HP partner) but this guy doesn't came across as particularly worse than usual. It does turn on some warning lights (this kind of person has the makings of a sociopath).