Oracle Corporation, a prominent tech stalwart, found itself at the center of employee activism this week as about 300 workers walked out in protest of Chairman Larry Ellison’s fundraiser for President Donald Trump. The walk-out, dubbed “No Ethics/No Work,” occurred on Thursday, with employees halting work at Oracle offices globally, including remote locations, at noon local time. Employees used the afternoon to volunteer or engage in civic activities, according to anonymous sources familiar with the situation.
The protest came after news broke that Ellison had hosted a fundraising event for Trump’s re-election campaign at his Rancho Mirage, California, home. The fundraiser sparked a significant backlash among Oracle employees, many of whom voiced their concerns over the chairman’s public support for Trump. A petition on Change.org, which garnered over 8,000 signatures, accused Ellison of violating Oracle’s diversity, inclusion, and ethics policies, arguing that his actions harmed the company’s image as the world’s second-largest software maker.
The petition’s demands included that Oracle and Ellison donate funds to causes such as climate change and publicly denounce the Trump administration. Workers also urged the company to make efforts to diversify its board.
While employee activism has been a growing trend in Silicon Valley, with employees from companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft taking a stand on issues ranging from gender equality to military contracts, Oracle has largely remained unaffected until now. Oracle’s protest marked a shift for the company, founded in 1977, whose corporate culture has traditionally been more conservative compared to its younger tech counterparts.
For many of the protesting workers, there was fear of retaliation. To protect themselves, some chose to participate in the walk-out using vacation time, as they had not received clear assurances from Oracle’s human resources team that their involvement would not result in disciplinary action. Others who supported the protest chose to donate to charitable causes that opposed Trump administration policies, rather than directly participate.
In response to reports that employees had difficulty accessing the protest website from company computers, Oracle clarified that this was a mistake caused by a security software issue. The company stated that the site was not intentionally blocked and the issue had been resolved.
The protest’s impact appeared to be more pronounced in cities like New York and Austin, which have younger workforces. At Oracle’s headquarters in Redwood City, California, participation seemed more subdued.
Despite the muted response in some locations, organizers hope that the walk-out will serve as a catalyst for ongoing employee activism at Oracle. The movement seeks to inspire employees to continue voicing their concerns and advocating for policies that align with their values.
As employee activism continues to gain momentum across Silicon Valley, Oracle’s walk-out highlights the growing divide between corporate leadership and worker sentiment, particularly when it comes to political alignment and corporate ethics
