The Andi Owen Apology
Below is the actual letter Andi Owen sent to MillerKnoll employees on April 18, 2023, after the company’s PR team said there would be no further comment. Nevertheless, Andi did - sort of - apologize to the troops. Of course, the whole incident is a bit silly and frankly, she made a pretty good point (out of frustration no doubt) about the performance of her team in the past few months. That being said, we stick by our letter as the correct one to have sent.
Hi Everyone,
I’m sure you’ve seen the media coverage about the town hall meeting we hosted a few weeks ago. As I shared in my first note to you, it is my job to be open and direct, and to ensure that everyone has the information they need to row in the same direction and achieve the goals we all work so hard to accomplish.
As a leader, I try to always pick the right words and tone to inspire and motivate this incredible team. I want to be transparent and empathetic, and as I continue to reflect on this instance, I feel terrible that my rallying cry seemed insensitive. What I’d hoped would energize the team to meet a challenge we’ve met many times before landed in a way that I did not intend and for that I am sorry.
Nothing will lessen the power and strength of our collective team. My appreciation for each of you is huge and I will continue to do everything I can to help us meet our shared goals. Thank you for your hard work, your grace, and for the commitment you show to one another and our company every single day.
-Andi
The Previously Suggested Letter of Apology From MMQB on April 10th
Subject: Addressing "You can visit Pity City, but you can't live there" Remarks and Other Matters
Date: April 10, 2023
Dear MillerKnoll Team,
First of all, I want to apologize for my recent comment about "Pity City." I know it was a bit insensitive, and I never meant to hurt anyone's feelings. In fact, I've come to realize that Pity City is a lovely place (despite the fact there are no Aeron chairs there), with a thriving community (probably made up of Steelcase employees) and a robust economy. So, if anyone wants to visit, I highly recommend it.
That being said, please don't take my comment (or me) too seriously. I tend to make jokes that are a little out there, and sometimes they fall flat. I promise to do better in the future and think before I speak.
Now, onto some other matters. I've noticed that some of you have been spending a lot of time on TikTok and Glassdoor. While I appreciate your enthusiasm for social media, I'm afraid I have to ask you to stop. TikTok is a major time-suck, and Glassdoor reviews can be misleading - especially the ones recently posted by employees instead of our PR team. Instead, let's focus on building the best damn office chairs on the planet(earth).
Finally, I want to remind you all that we still need to find an additional $26 million in sales in order to get that bonus you all want. So, let's get out there and sell, sell, sell! And if we hit our target, I promise to do a little dance for you all.
Thanks for your hard work, and let's keep pushing forward.
Best
Andi Owen, CEO, MillerKnoll