Why was he asked to leave? To which “terrible optics” do you refer? Your implied context is opaque.
This article about union busting https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/08/technology/tech-companies...
and this one about working conditions at npm https://www.businessinsider.com/npm-employees-open-letter-20...
or The Register who covered mostly everything that happened since the first layoff mentioned in my Twitter thread https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/04/22/npm_fired_staff_uni...
But I know there are some boards of directors out there, who would view the ability to bust unions (and get away with it) as a reason to hire, not a reason to fire.
I don't know why they let go of their CEO. I wouldn't assume it was necessarily for any of the reasons you mentioned. It certainly could have been, but it also could very easily have been for completely unrelated reasons.
I wasn't mentioning those were the reasons, but that those were part of what happened in the last months.
This is a textbook example of if (when!) you get let go you should strongly consider an internet moratorium.
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Often his replies are just "Thanks" style... But you know with him it's a very considered reply despite the terseness.
I'd suggest that such copious tweets (& follow up comments here) may very well harm future prospects... As you sow you reap. You need to learn to let things go: particularly in tech.
It's great that you like your (former) fellow employees: make friends with them and network with them. Alternatively, if you wish to make political actions, then undoubtedly you need to be more impersonal: just like the people who were tasked with outing you.
The fact that I shared my story like I did and doing now was beneficial on all levels for me. I stayed true to my principles and values. I was approach by companies and managers who have the same values also. It helped me go back on my feet emotionally and professionally way more quickly.
My personal take is that whatever you do, no matter if it's about deciding to not care or not say anything, or being vocal, stay true to yourself, and be proud of what you share.
I only made it through the first ~10 tweets before clicking out, so maybe there's something I'm missing further in the thread. But to me, it just sounds like what you'd expect from someone being laid off.
It's a little weird that he didn't have a manager who would wish him well on his way out. But that's about it. The bit about a severance with a non-disparagement contract is absolutely standard, not out of the usual whatsoever (especially for a VC backed company like NPM).
That's a very common thing, laying people off in an insensitive manner. Lot's of companies (even big massive successful companies) do that all the time.
That doesn't make it right, but, whatever the reasons their board had for letting go of their CEO, laying people off in an insensitive manner is unlikely to be among them.