Chicago Sun-Times:
Oprah Winfrey : the world's greatest boss?
For the second time in recent years, she's making a strong case for that title by taking her entire staff and their families on vacation. This time they're going on a lavish Mediterranean cruise.
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May the all powerful Oz bless Oprah. She is a good woman and has helped many people improve their lives, me included. if you want to tear someone down, there's always George Bush, but leave Oprah alone.
That's really great of her. Now, if we could just get her to void the contract with Jenny McCarthy - I might actually become a fan of hers again.
An incredibly adept, brilliant, admirable business women - whom I feel is misguided from time to time.
..aren't we all misguided at some point and time?
Oprah's not perfect and neither are U
As a grandmother of an autistic granddaughter, I am appallled at your opinion of Jenny...If you read anything about Brain Plasticity and Functional Medicine, you will realize that we are still in the DARK ages when it comes to Neuro Syndromes.
Also I am looking forward to reading Kessler's book about his weight issues, it is so easy to talk about Personal Responsibility, but that would not have helped out the Love Canal, Agent Orange and Gulf War syndrome victims...
I LOVE OPRAH!!!
johntraVOL
I do not remember Drew Carey being criticized for taking his staff on a trip.
I wonder what is the difference between Mr. Carey showing appreciation of his staff and Ms Winfrery ? Let your conscience help you with that one.
Good point. I also don't remember Bob Barker being attacked for giving away free cars for 20 years that people had to pay taxes on, but Oprah did it in one show, and it became a controversy. I guess no matter how successful Oprah gets, there will always be people who want to keep a black woman in her place. A super wealthy influential dark skinned black woman upsets the natural order of things in a lot of people so they grasp for any excuse to justify their hate.
...that just about covers it! As a young kid many years ago, I was acting obnoxious and hateful. My grandmother sat me down and told me that "hate" like "acid" does more harm to the vessel it's in - than that which it is directed upon. With that said, hate only eats up the hater - and Oprah will continue to march to the bank with her BILLIONS and a smile on her face!
BTW - TO HATERS! Hate is like a cancer - get a grip on it before it's too late!
Bob Baker does not peddle quacks and tabloid guests.
AND a super wealthy dark skinned Black woman who has the power to enlist the help of an American politcal dynasty to endorse our first Black president. It's too much for a lot of these people to handle, and you are so right that it upsets the natural order for them. They can go kick rocks.
Kinda off topic, but I read on another website where many of them were chiding our FIrst Lady for "trying to sound educated"-can you believe that?! Who does Michelle think she is, an Ivy League educated attorney-lol. It must really suck for these people to always have to convince themselves that they are superior, while the rest of the world moves along.
I met some of here staff when I took my daily walks on the beach, and they were thrilled to be on Maui (perhaps some of them had never seen the Pacific Ocean before) and they were very outgoing and curious about life in the Islands. Maui has had a love affair with Oprah for some time. Come back soon! The Islands are taking a big hit with the current recession, the H1N1 flu and now the paper threats by the North Korean Mini-Me, Kim Dong Ill.
Dear Oprah:
I wish you were my boss! Who cares about the haters, they will always criticize while never contributing anything to better anything.
I am 99.999999% positive that you employees are greatful, after all you could have only taken them, but their families? Generous..
For all who say it is a publicity stunt or a tax write off, WHO CARES?? Seriously, A family gets a vacation they may not have budgeted for, the people on the cruise get another couple of weeks work, etc.. I am sure Oprah means well, and I don't understand why she can't do something sweet without all of the ignorance.
I LOVE YOU OPRAH AND SO WISH YOU WERE MY BOSS.. xoxoxoxox
...AND, Oprah's employees get the same FOUR months off that she does - with PAY! After this cruise, they can go anywhere they want on their own......
Exactly, my friend has worked for Harpo for 6 years
I agree. She's come from extreme poverty & abuse to become the most generous black and performer in U.S. history. As of 2006 she had already given over $303 million of her own to charity, making her the 32nd most generous person in America:
http://www
Why am I not working for Oprah? Talk about validating her staff and families! Gotta to love her, you go girl.
You're right! For those who think that these people would not want to vacation together - think again! There are many offices around this country where people are as close as family, and many still who really don't have families - and those people at the office "ARE" their families.
When I worked for a major chemical company, we were very close - and used to organize on our own various outings and vacations.
TO ALL OPRAH HATERS:
Oprah does not have to do a damn thing for her employees - whether or not sponsors are involved.
Question: WHAT HAS YOUR BOSS DONE FOR YOU LATELY?!
Donia 1970 bravo to you I agree.
Thanks, I detest people who complain for the sheer purpose of complaining and hating on others! H$ll, if she didn't do anything - they would be here complaining that she has too much money for her NOT to do anything for employees.
I just posted something similar
My boss cut out 2 weeks of sick leave.....
Oprah is an awesome human being who made her own way to the top.
She will always be remembered for all she has done for others not as fortunate.
Incredible.
Oprah does not look like the group of people who are responsible for destroying the world's economy (hint, hint). But that does not stop an entire group of hateful, bitter comments from the peanut gallery for blaming Oprah for everything except global warming. This is one of the reasons why many international people hate Americans so much, because of the arrogant, self entitled mentality in this thread alone. If Oprah had donated tons of money to orphans here in the States, then the complaint would be 'well how many of the kids are White, you know she's a bigot"
Oprah, Bill Gates, or any other zillionaire does NOT owe anyone ANY CHARITY/GIFTS/etc. And to belittle all their philanthropy with "well it's a tax write off, just give me the money instead of the cruise, etc. makes you (the ones who have posted these types of comments) all look like a bunch of sullen, pouting children. Enjoy your misery, while Oprah and her staff are docking in Spain (or Italy?) right now.
TOUCHE'!
Co-signed!
Excellent post.
We do not belittle folks for charity, we belittle those that peddle quackary and tabloid fodder.
And keep on belittling over nonsensical bs; Oprah is still counting her billions in the bank and opening schools, influencing millions of people to read, etc. What are you doing, besides being jealous?
Am I in church, cause U were preaching
Nice. Drew Carey did that, too. My dentist has taken his staff and their families to Hawaii every year for 25 years. He ain't rich like Oprah. THAT'S a nice boss.
Your father is an honorable man. He didn't commoditize or profiteer the gift recipients.
..you conveniently did not comment on Drew Carey's "staff" trip!
Oprah was born in extreme poverty & abuse & has still given over $303 million (ranks #32 on the philanthropy list):
http://www
No one has come from so little to have given so much as Oprah.
Amen.
She is a good woman.
Hear, hear! My point was that it happens a lot.
No disparagement of Oprah is stated or implied.
Oprah Winfrey Show/Harpo = paid infomercial/reality tv/direct marketing
Excellent business model. The employees and families ARE now content and commoditiz
Good deal for the cruise line during a down economy - and all the "best things" products/g
Europeans will laugh at the very notion of THIS being called a vacation - while profiting.
No cruise down the Mississippi or visit to Grand Teton - in America. Nope.
...I live on the "Mississippi River" - it's nothing to write home about....
Absurd. Oprah doesn't need to use her employees as content. She gets far better ratings from celebrities.
just curious for all the rethugs-
what did wal mart do for its employees? Home Depot?
Hopefully, they aren't asking (demanding) they PERFORM in their commercials - as CONTENT, reality-style. I, for one, would not want my daughter permanently memorialized (exploited?) on film in this way - for me to keep my job. I may have to work FOR someone, that doesn't translate in my family having to be commoditized in this way.
The question we will never have answered because of the Harpo over-the-top NDA - is whether it is MANDATORY. If it is, how many folks would be lauding this "gift?"
wharrgarbl
In case you missed it, signing an NDA is not all that unusual. I worked for a major chemical company for years, and signed an NDA.
Quite ya bellyaching!
You must have a horrible and miserable life. Why are you assuming things not written in the article.
Your jealousy and envy is pathetic.
Wow. Is it so hard to just admit that a successful black woman did a nice thing? The amount of creativity & effort that goes into these attempts to demonize Oprah's good deed are just pathetic.
Virtually all celebs insist on NDAs. As usual things are only controversial when a black woman does it. Part of what you are paying your employee to do is respect your privacy. If they don't like it, they don't have to work for you. A celeb would have to be a fool to pay someone to be exposed to all their private business just so they could sell it all to the tabloids.
Oprah's awesome!
I wonder if they'll have to pay taxes on this, like the folks who got the free cars. If she's paying them a good enough wage, then I suppose they can absorb it if they must.
Hey if I got a free car, I wouldn't care about the taxes!! The could have refused it and given it to me..
I want to work for Oprah....
*sigh*
Have you ever applied?
Joining a CULT comes with a price - and the Harpo NDA prevents us from knowing what it is, today. In the future, as the NDAs begin to expire - another tale may be told.
You are so bitter.
Obviously the answer is yes...
I am reminded of teenagers/
Oprah has yet to reach that phase - and Michael Jackson never will. As we live through the stages of Oprah's life along with her - and sponsors are willing to pay her for us to watch - let's hope she blissfully sails on w/out ever hitting the wall most adults eventually do. Or, if/when she does, it isn't televised.
WOW! You are so ungreatful. If my family invited me for brunch I would just really appreciate it, I wouldn't whine about them choosing the place. So glad you're not in my family. As for Oprah, I'm sure she picked a vacation she felt most of her employees would most enjoy as a cruise is the best vacation you can have (get to see so many different places, get to travel on the ocean & sit outside watching the sun rise & set)
You are sure of nothing. And, gratitude has nothing to do w/the story I told - which could be by every parent who must TEACH children/a
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First Posted: 06-20-09 09:36 PM | Updated: 06-20-09 11:59 PM