When 1,400 Employees Tell Their CEO 'We Won't Build That

The Uncomfortable Question Employees Asked Their CEO

"What happens when the technology we build ends up hurting people?"

That's the essence of a letter signed by 1,400Salesforce employees demanding CEO Marc Benioff cut ties with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They're specifically troubled by reports that Salesforce AI is helping ICE "expeditiously" hire 10,000 new agents and process tip-line reports.

The timing couldn't be more pointed. In January, ICE agents killed two U.S. citizens in Minnesota. Then Benioff joked at a Las Vegas employee gathering that "ICE agents were on site." Employees weren't laughing.

This isn't just about one contract. It's about a fundamental question: Should tech workers have a say in how their creations are used?

When Your Paycheck Conflicts With Your Principles

The employee letter reveals a deeper anxiety plaguing Big Tech. Workers want transparency about what services Salesforce provides to ICE, calling the current relationship "opaque." They're asking to "pause or prohibit infrastructure, AI systems or services that enable ICE operational scale-up."

Their concerns are practical, not just philosophical. "Employees face real personal and professional risk when Salesforce is perceived as enabling ICE," the letter states, citing "reputational harm, social targeting or being misidentified as complicit in activities they oppose."

This employee revolt isn't isolated. 900Google workers made similar demands last week. Apple CEO Tim Cook has criticized ICE agent behavior. The pattern suggests a generational shift in how tech workers view their role in society.

The CEO's Impossible Math

Benioff faces a brutal calculation. Salesforce stock has dropped 27% this year as investors worry about AI models threatening traditional software companies. The company is targeting 9-10% growth partly through expanded government business.

In May, the General Services Administration revealed Salesforce offered Slack discounts to government agencies. Adobe, Microsoft, and ServiceNow did the same. Government contracts provide stable revenue streams that public companies crave.

Yet Benioff has positioned himself as a values-driven leader. He's criticized military deployment in San Francisco and championed social causes. The ICE controversy exposes the tension between his public persona and business realities.

The CEO has cultivated relationships across the political spectrum, dining with President Trump and posting photos with Attorney General Pam Bondi. But his employees are asking him to choose sides.

The New Corporate Governance Reality

Employee activism is reshaping how tech companies operate. Workers increasingly expect their employers to align with their values, not just provide competitive salaries and benefits. They're willing to organize, sign letters, and risk their careers to make their voices heard.

For companies, this creates unprecedented challenges. How do you balance shareholder returns, employee satisfaction, and social responsibility? What happens when your workforce becomes your conscience?

The Salesforce letter includes a pointed reminder: "Marc, you have often said that 'business is the greatest platform for change.' Today, that platform must be used to defend our neighbors' constitutional rights and the safety of our communities."