Wealthy business owners could, however, make the biggest impact by helping their workers stay employed and healthy. Still, some of the largest companies including Amazon have been accused of not doing enough.
Amazon’s philanthropic efforts have included a $25 million donation to support independent delivery drivers and seasonal employees under financial distress. But so far it has resisted closing distribution centers where people have been infected and has offered unpaid time off only through March, a difficult proposition for many of its hourly workers.
“We shouldn’t let philanthropic generosity excuse corporate leadership failures,” Reich said. “There are many things CEOs can do in the context of their own companies that are as important if not more important than philanthropic efforts.”
In a Twitter post, Cuban put a finer point on the fissures the pandemic is revealing between America’s rich and poor.
“Whenever we get through this,” he said, “we will look back and wonder why we didn’t use this as an opportunity to attack income inequality.”
--With assistance from Scott Soshnick.
This articlew as provided by Bloomberg News.