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Comment by 0des | Hacker News Reader

Comment's gone now, but a video was posted:

game_the0ry 5 minutes ago | prev | next [–]

EDIT: After watching the video, somehow the vest makes it even more offensive. I don't know why, maybe someone smarter than me knows.

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Wow this guy comes off as a jerk that I would not want to work for.

"Last time I did this I cried. This time I hope to be stronger".

This is not about you - the CEO who has taken no direct responsibility except for empty words.

The first half of this video seems like "I know you are losing your job and that's a sacrifice I have to make."

I don't think it's the vest as much as the fact as you can see his legs and how he's slightly slouching. This is simultaneously too casual (like you're sitting next to someone at a table instead of across a desk) and too assertive (he's like in your face slightly spreading his legs). Also:

- making it about himself ("I cried last time") as others have mentioned

- the last couple sentences are pretty bad. You get to say "lucky" one time and that's it. You're the one making the decision: did you just spin a wheel? "More lucky, more successful in your next endeavors", which is publicly dunking on people by saying they are being let go for performance and not economic reasons.

I've always thought that the worst thing about a plane crash would be the 30 seconds before you hit the ground when you know what's coming, but it hasn't happened yet. In other words: if you ever have to do this, get on with it. He wastes like 9 weasily hedge sentences before dropping the news everyone on the call could already have guessed was coming. Just get on with it. None of that preamble was necessary.

Getting fired is bad enough, but if it's being done by someone bad at firing people it's the worst. Moneyball had some solid advice:

"Be straight with them, no fluff, just facts. 'Pete I gotta let you go. Jack's office will handle the details.'" That's it.

[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTjhHrcyiQI

I don’t want to micro-diagnose his intro, but I think about half of his intro was needed. I don’t need to hear about how this is the second time or how hard it was last time, but I do think a few sentences of context serves as a “hey, pay attention!” intro to the news.

It needs to never be about the manager (CEO in this case) doing the termination, but a few sentences of intro is standard and appropriate I think.

I almost deleted my comment after I wrote it, because, like, I get that he's probably also nervous and it's not an easy thing to do. You're probably right that some kind of "pay attention!" intro is necessary, but, yes, I'd definitely advise skipping over all the stuff about how hard this is for him.

I didn't watch the video myself, but as a general advice this is a very bad idea. People you give the bad news to shouldn't be caught unaware by it, they should at least suspect it and have some time to get used to the idea. There is nothing worse than expecting a good news (raise?) and then learning the possibly devastating one instead. My experience at least.

I'm sorry if that happened to you but entering a meeting hoping for a raise and getting fired instead means there were several big communication issues with your manager.

I don't really get the outrage here. It's absolutely terrible for the employees, as all layoffs are. Maybe they could've just sent an email.

Even SpaceX did a mass layoff couple of years ago.

What was he supposed to do? Have 900 people come in to the office in-person? Send individual emails?

It's an extraordinary sacrifice to be asked of 900 people. Yes, he was supposed to do more than just tell a bullshit sob story how "last time he had to do that he cried." Fuck him.

If you have hired 900 people that have become "useless", it is your duty as CEO to treat each firing with respect and understand that it might cause a ton of stress for some. What the fuck are you even paid for if you can't even do that job, after overestimating the amount of people required by that ungodly amount in the first place?

I am astounded by how many people in this thread lack any basic semblance of empathy.

>Yes, he was supposed to do more than just tell a bullshit sob story

That's what I'm asking. Specifically, what do you personally think would have been a better approach to let go 900 people?

Send a direct deposited and generous severance on Friday.

Monday, have in person meetings with these departments, with the financial reassurance that the parachute is firmly installed on their back to have the next 6 months to comfortably find new accommodations.

The last step is optional, but in the past I've seen these CEO's have previously arranged a soft landing place in other businesses for the people they have to let go. Just because their position at this business went up in smoke doesn't mean their skills went with it. Lining up at least an interview with a competitor would have been classy.

In what world can a company that has to lay off 900 people also afford to pay them for the next 6 months?

It’s a terrible situation for the employees (and better US employment laws would certainly help) but none of your suggestions are even borderline realistic.

Are you familiar with the industry this company is in? Right now they are printing money with the current economy. This is absolutely feasible.

With the number of bullshit meetings companies have, it wouldn't be too hard for each direct manager (+ HR rep) to inform employees individually instead of in a mass-firing video.

Abide by the WARN act for one

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