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Beetle Inc. suspends co-founder after sexist advert appears online

After drawing outcry for posting an advert that has been labeled sexist and discriminatory, Beetle Inc. has told htxt.africa that it has suspended the person responsible.

That person also so happens to be Beetle Inc. co-founder and operational director Dane Salmon.

The announcement came via email sent to htxt.africa by co-founder and strategic marketing director Kylie Salmon.

“As the co-founder of Beetle Inc, I wish to take ownership of our actions – not just illustrated in our most recent offensive job advert – but for the culture that has clearly permeated into our company. We understand how offensive our actions are, as well as acknowledge the concerning insensitive culture which has grown within our company,” writes Salmon.

The offending advert called for applicants to “Be exceptionally good looking with massive ‘lungs’ and only wear low cut tops” ,though users found no shortage of adverts and social media posts that objectified, mocked or degraded women.

The co-founder tells us that she has appointed a diversity and sensitivity expert with a view to rebuilding the company culture.

“Their appointment will see them engaging directly with me, as well as our staff to commence the process in terms of building a new and acceptable company culture. We feel it is imperative to investigate, evaluate and determine a reparative course of action with immediate effect,” Kylie Salmon adds.

The co-founder acknowledged her role in allowing the company culture that exists at Beetle Inc to thrive and has pledged to turn this around.

The full statement from is included below.

Beetle Inc. Statement

As the co-founder of Beetle Inc, I wish to take ownership of our actions – not just illustrated in our most recent offensive job advert – but for the culture that has clearly permeated into our company. We understand how offensive our actions are, as well as acknowledge the concerning insensitive culture which has grown within our company.

This cannot be excused or apologized for. We understand this.

I have appointed a diversity and sensitivity expert with the aim of ensuring that we are equipped and guided within our future actions. Their appointment will see them engaging directly with me, as well as our staff to commence the process in terms of building a new and acceptable company culture. We feel it is imperative to investigate, evaluate and determine a repairative course of action with immediate effect.

The person responsible for the actions (Dane Salmon, co-founder of the business, Operations Director and also my husband), has been suspended.

The diversity team will, during this time, engage with our staff to secure their honest and unbiased views with a vision to create a new culture, one in which something like our most recent misstep will never be tolerated again.

Recent events have highlighted my complicity in permitting the culture that exists within our company. I personally pledge to work towards building a better corporate culture, and an agency with integrity, that will enable our staff to thrive and feel as valued as they are,

Furthermore, we will be engaging with our stakeholders, as we rebuild.

Sincerely,

Kylie Salmon

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