Hacker News Reader

No, I'm a jerk not a constant asshole. Most companies try real hard not to hire idiots. Netflix is such a company.

Orders are not given at netflix. I choose the project I want to work on. Hence my comment "Context vs. Control", it's taken right out of the presentation.

View on HN

Interesting. In your observation how good has the Company been at not hiring these so-called "Brilliant Jerks"? I've found one of the common failures in engineering management is knowing when to get rid of smart but disruptive talent.

Not perfect. But they really mean it when they say "adequate performance gets a generous severance package".

Then it's not 'adequate', is it?

My impression from the slides is that they see it as a financial gain if it frees up the job for a higher performer.

No mention is made of why they feel the need to offer severance when they're shedding an underperformer, but maybe they want to make it a less negative event. Maybe the strategy is to try and avoid distracting or upsetting the high performers by having underachievers leave on good terms (this could explain the "goodbye" emails).

Reply on news.ycombinator.com