In Email to Employees, CEO Threatens Layoffs if Obama Wins

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CEO David Siegel of Westgate Resorts wrote an email to his employees warning of dire circumstances if President Obama is re-elected. Excerpts follow, and you can read the entire email here.

Siegel 1

Siegel 2

The email is reminiscent of a chain letter from 2008 from an alleged small business owner. Siegel confirmed with Gawker that his letter is real and was sent to his employees, but he acknowledged using the original as a "guideline" and said, "It speaks the truth, and it gives [employees] something to think about when they go to the polls."

Siegel and his wife were the subject of a documentary, "The Queen of Versailles," about their plans to build the largest home in America-a $100-million-dollar, 28-bedroom, 90,000-square-foot mansion.

Discussion Starters:

  • What are the potential consequences of a CEO's sending such an email to employees?
  • Do you agree with Siegel's arguments? Why or why not?
  • Does knowing about Siegel's extravagant home change your opinion of him or his concerns about his business?