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In a letter obtained by CNN Business, Kevin Plank, CEO, and Patrik Frisk, president of the company, told employees Monday night that the newspaper was "hard to read."
"This is not the culture we envision for Under Armor," they wrote.
Plank and Frisk said the company would hasten a "significant cultural transformation" that, they say, is already happening in Under Armor. "We can and we will do better," they added.
According to the article, executives and employees, including Plank, have frequented strip clubs with athletes and colleagues over the years. The Journal quoted sources who said the company often pays for "many participants" visits.
Under Armor told the newspaper that Plank did not carry out any activities in striptease clubs nor did it use company funds in such places.
The newspaper survey on the culture of the sportswear company is based on interviews with more than a dozen current and former employees and executives. The strip club visits were part of a work environment that the company's women found degrading, the newspaper revealed.
Under Armor has partnered with several top female athletes, including ballerina Misty Copeland and ski racer Lindsey Vonn.
In a statement, the company said it "responded to these serious allegations of the past and will continue to fight workplace behaviors that violate our policies."
"Inappropriate behavior that defies our values or violates our policies is unacceptable – and will not be tolerated," the company said. "We are committed to providing a respectful and inclusive workplace."
Here is the complete letter that Plank and Frisk sent to employees Monday:
Dear UA teammates,
Leadership means that when faced with scrutiny, criticism or accusation, the most important question to ask is whether it is deserved. At Under Armor, we have our truth.
We are writing to you today in response to an article published by the Wall Street Journal, which reports specific instances of inappropriate behavior at the workplace and a difficult environment. It was hard to read. This is not the culture we envision for Under Armor.
We believe that there is systemic inequality in the global workplace and will take this opportunity to accelerate the significant cultural transformation underway that is already underway at Under Armor. We can and we will do better.
You deserve to work in a respectful and empowering environment. Inappropriate behavior that defies our values or violates our policies is unacceptable – and will not be tolerated. We believe that our diversity and collective decency will guide our future.
More than the professional talent and expertise you bring to Under Armor, it's who you are as an individual – your heart, your values, your story. Your voice is critical and we continue to listen humbly and decisively. We can not protect this house if we do not protect each other. This is the first priority and responsibility of leadership.
Our culture and our values define us. Period. Over the last few years, we have designed and implemented a number of flagship programs, including our leadership development and integration courses, our unconscious bias training, our culture clubs, and our platform. innovation focused on diversity. As we build on this foundation and learn from the thoughtful work already done in our global organization, your management team remains firmly committed to:
* Allow a work environment that allows you to be the best possible;
* Adopt and implement policies and protocols to improve the workplace;
* Provide Safe and Confidential Channels (Resource Guide for Teammates) to identify inappropriate behaviors you encounter, hear about, or testify
* S attack quickly and resolutely to inappropriate behavior; and,
* Using the results of the teammate engagement survey to identify and activate specific, goal-oriented actions to strengthen our culture.
Our mission, Under Armor Makes You Better, is a philosophy that goes far beyond shirts and shoes. This should inform every interaction we have with each other, giving the opportunity to teammates to be the best of themselves at work, at home and in their community.
We look forward to engaging you directly and honestly in the days and months ahead.
Kevin and Patrik
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