Based on this quote:

"If we are going to work on Uber 2.0, I also need to work on Travis 2.0 to become the leader that this company needs and that you deserve," Kalanick wrote in an email obtained by BuzzFeed News. "During the interim period, the leadership team, my directs, will be running the company."

It appears he is leaving more due to the issues with uber then him mom dying, but I am sure it contributed.

You're quoting out of context. The first line of the email explicitly says he's taking time off to grieve, reflect and work on himself, in that order (he also enumerates "focus on building a leadership team" as a reason, though I'm not really sure how that is supposed to be done when one's taking time off)

The second paragraph (the one you quoted) is a tie-in to the third paragraph, where he says what's going to happen in terms of leadership during this interim period.

If this were a book or movie, a significant life event like either of those (or both) would be the natural opening of a new arc.

While I sympathize with him for his loss, and think he deserves a leave, this critical part of the leave has nothing to do with bereavement:

> Upon Kalanick’s return, Uber will strip him of some duties and appoint an independent chair to limit his influence, according to an advance copy of a report prepared for the board.

Losing a parent is a shock, especially when it happens in an unexpected manner like this, but it's something everyone faces and most people don't take extended leaves from work as a result.

Having unexpectedly lost a parent myself, and worked with others who have been through similar circumstances, it is absolutely accepted and expected to take at least a week off, probably longer, if you work for a reasonable company with a reasonable manager. It's one of the most difficult things most people will experience in life. That amount of time is barely enough to get over the initial shock before you half heartedly return to work while beginning to deal with probate, attorneys, settling the estate, and trying to work through your emotions.

I suspect this forum is mostly teens and twenty somethings. We all lose a parent(s). It happened to me and it'll happen to you. It happens all the time with your coworkers, you just don't notice it. People don't take a year off to 'find themselves' after losing a parent. They suddenly have a funeral to plan (and pay for) and then get back to their jobs. That's life.

Also, if you want to get into boating, don't let an animal onto your boat. This accident happened because the family dog stepped in between mom and dad switching passenger/driver positions.

People who have to work to maintain housing and a family don't take a year off after losing someone close.

If you have the money and the ability, and the pain is hard enough, why would it be unreasonable to take time off? I haven't lost a parent yet, but I would probably want more than a weekend to grieve.

it's not unreasonable, but it's also unrelated to a lot of the issues Uber is coming under fire for.

That was the consensus yesterday too.

When it rains, it pours.

Except when it doesn't. That saying is just confirmation bias.

Buried at the very very bottom of the article as a footnote.

Glossing over the tragedy of unexpectedly losing one's mother and almost losing One's father. The media reporting on Uber absolutely disgusts me and demonstrates a culture far more toxic than anything I've heard about Uber.

My bet is that the media doesn't make public any email from Travis about this because it will likely show how the media is grossly misrepresenting things.

FWIW How people read online: why you won't finish this article.

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2013/06/...

So Greyball was fake? How about their Hell program? Or the fact that one of their executives illegally acquired a rape victims medical reports and circulated them around the office?

Uber has continuously demonstrated a total disregard for both the law and common decency. They lost the benefit of the doubt a long time ago.

Kalanick was aware and had seen the rape victim's health records and apparently it was an attempt (by Emil?) to figure out how to discredit the victim and her accusations.

These are horrific people and while I sympathize with Kalanick over the loss of his mother and his father's situation, I do not wish him any professional success.

My position here is "I am entirely capable of hating Kalanick and the reporting about Kalanick at the same time".

Most media reporting is disgusting and written primarily to get page views. Facts are selected to support the narrative they are pushing.

That doesn't excuse Kalanik and the way he ran the company.

I'm reminded of the Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect - how we are constantly surprised when the media gets crucial details (which we are personally familiar with) so very wrong in their reporting.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/08/the-murray-ge...

You think this leave is his choice? I haven't seen anything indicating this was initiated by him or that he was setting the terms of the leave. Further, the board explicitly put in place reduced responsibility after he comes back. This seems very much imposed on him.

On a side note, I would love to see sources that show this is really voluntary. I am very curious about this. I actually think the real reason for his ouster is Uber's in ability to become profitable. A voluntary departure would undercut my thesis and I think it is always important to correct analysis.

My corporate overlord is the good one!

Yeah. His mom died and his dad was severely injured in a boating accident. Very curious there is no mention of that. Edit: They actually mention it at the end of the article

http://fortune.com/2017/06/02/uber-ceo-parents-tribute-boati...

Right near the end of the article it says:

> Kalanick decided to take a leave while also coping with the death of his mother, whose funeral he attended Friday.

Ah thanks, I missed that sentence.

It's simple. It doesn't fit in with the rest of the defamatory narrative they were just itching to write for the rest of the article.

Either that, or they simply didn't know. But I find the latter hard to believe. Even if that detail was missed, it's very poor journalism to not find the full story.

The newscaster did mention that he hasn't been at work since the incident, spending time instead with his dad. It's a challenging time for anyone going through this, even if he's overseen some questionable things at his company.

I may dislike Uber, and Travis, and the worldwide practices of the firm, BUT a tragic loss is a tragic loss. I hope his father recovers completely and that together they will manage to cope with the lose of a Mother and Wife.

(same goes to all who have lost a loved one irrespective of how they run their business)