In a surprising and controversial move, a U.S.-based CEO terminated 99 employees through a Slack message for failing to attend a company meeting. The incident, which has gone viral on Reddit, has drawn widespread criticism and disbelief.
Intern shares shocking Slack screenshot
A Reddit user who claimed to be an intern at the musical instrument company shared the screenshot of the CEO’s heated message. According to the post, the user had joined the company only an hour before being let go. In the screenshot, the CEO, identified as Baldvin, chastised the absent employees, accusing them of not taking their responsibilities seriously.
“For those of you who did not show up to the meeting this morning, consider this your official notice: you’re all fired,” the CEO wrote in the Slack message. “You failed to do what you agreed to, you failed to complete your part of the contract, and you failed to show up to the meetings you were supposed to attend and work for.”
Mass firings leave only 11 employees
The CEO went on to state that out of the 110-person workforce, only 11 employees attended the meeting. “Those 11 get to stay. The rest of you are terminated,” he announced. In his final remarks, he instructed the fired employees to “sign out of all accounts, return company property, and get the f*** out of my business right now.”
The CEO added that he had given his staff the chance to “make their lives better, work, and grow,” but felt they had failed to take the opportunity seriously.
Social media backlash
The bold firing decision has ignited a flurry of reactions online, particularly on Reddit, where users questioned the circumstances surrounding the missed meeting. Many speculated that the CEO might not have properly informed the team about the meeting in advance.
“I can’t believe 99 people would just skip a meeting unless there was a communication failure,” one Reddit user commented. “Did he send a last-minute invite or something?” another user asked, expressing doubt over the CEO’s narrative.
Broader implications and criticisms
The incident has raised concerns about workplace culture and management practices, with many questioning the professionalism and ethics of firing such a large number of employees through a messaging platform. The move comes amid growing scrutiny of extreme work demands and erratic managerial behavior in the tech and start-up sectors.
While the CEO’s drastic action has drawn significant backlash, it also highlights the challenges of remote work communication and the potential fallout from mismanagement. As the debate continues online, the company has yet to release an official statement clarifying the events that led to the mass firings.