Did not throw like 'trash': CEO says after firing employee, but netizens don't like it

Time of India

5 hours ago

A past LinkedIn post by a U.S.-based entrepreneur recently resurfaced and attracted unexpected attention—though not the kind he might have hoped for. The post, originally published last year, outlined the founder's personal lessons from dismissing his very first employee. When a parody page called LinkedIn Lunatics shared a screenshot of the post on X (formerly Twitter), the content rapidly gained traction. What began as a seemingly thoughtful reflection on
leadership and company culture
spiraled into a social media firestorm.
A Step-by-Step Exit Strategy
The entrepreneur's original post detailed the process he followed while terminating the employee, emphasizing that the manner of an employee's departure can have a lasting impact on a company's internal atmosphere. According to his account, the conversation lasted only ten minutes, kept brief and to the point. A severance offer was made based on tenure—one week's salary for every year of service. He also promised to provide a reference if needed and maintained an open, honest tone throughout the interaction.
Following the meeting, the founder sent a company-wide message via Slack announcing the employee's exit, though he refrained from sharing details. He claimed this method helped prevent rumours and maintain transparency and helped the employee maintain their dignity.
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"I provided the ex-employee's contact info to the team and encouraged them to reach out if they wished. This avoids any secrecy. This approach shows my team that if they ever have to leave, they'll be treated with respect, not discarded like trash..." he wrote on LinkedIn.
To further support the former team member, he included their contact information and invited others to reach out if they wished. He expressed that this approach was meant to assure his team that anyone leaving the company would be treated with dignity and not cast aside disrespectfully.
Online Uproar and Accusations of Narcissism
While some users on LinkedIn initially applauded the entrepreneur's structured and candid leadership style, the response on X was far less forgiving. Many netizens accused the entrepreneur of being self-centered, using the firing as an opportunity for self-promotion. A particularly scathing comment likened the post to someone turning a tragedy into a moment to boost their ego.
— Kouignaman40156 (@Kouignaman40156)
— philemon_morris (@philemon_morris)
Criticism extended to LinkedIn as well, where users condemned the founder for oversharing a highly sensitive matter. Detractors accused him of lacking emotional maturity and questioned his leadership abilities. They argued that making such a big deal out of a routine managerial responsibility exposed his insecurities rather than his professionalism.
A Post That Backfired
What was perhaps intended to showcase leadership ethics and emotional intelligence ended up backfiring badly. Critics suggested that the founder's attempt to publicize his handling of the situation only served to diminish his credibility. In trying to illustrate respectful offboarding, the entrepreneur ironically invited widespread scrutiny—not for his actions, but for turning a private experience into a performative moment on a professional platform.