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Why I Was Fired From a Tech Startup and What My Boss Had to Say About It

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Re: Why I Was Fired From a Tech Startup and What My Boss Had to Say About It

#81

Post by nknighthb »

jackmaney wrote: post #73
nknighthb wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I take it that you're not a "person who wears a suit"? I'm a person whose life experience tells me anyone wearing a suit is, to a very high degree of probability, evil, stupid, or both. Do your justifications work both ways or not? If it's just fine to discriminate against someone for not wearing a suit, is it equally fine for me to discriminate against someone for wearing a suit? > the business will need to confor…

"...anyone wearing a suit is, to a very high degree of probability, evil, stupid, or both." Or at a job interview.

I've never worn a suit to a job interview, and would not tolerate working for a company where I was expected to.

As an interviewer, I've encountered only a couple people who did wear suits. Definitely lived down to the stereotype.

Re: Why I Was Fired From a Tech Startup and What My Boss Had to Say About It

#82

Post by mcv »

freehunter wrote: post #38
ececconi wrote: post #29

> Human Resources is not your advocate. Human Resources is a risk-assessment department. Powerful statement.

This is basically why unions were formed in the first place. HR is there to protect the company, and they are owned by the company. Unions are there to protect the employees, and they are owned by the employees. I know the current attitude is against unions, and there are probably a lot of anti-union people on HN, for good reasons. Unions realized their power and became corrupt, became money-hungry, became power-hung…

Good unions are great. For employees, for the economy, and even for the employers. I don't understand how American unions got so crazy and self-destructive (or if they're not, why so many Americans are convinced the are).

Re: Why I Was Fired From a Tech Startup and What My Boss Had to Say About It

#83

Post by robomartin »

liquidise wrote: post #43
cjensen wrote: post #26

His boss fired him and told him why? Never do that. When firing someone in an at-will state, just do it and explain nothing. Explanations can easily lead to lawsuits. It's just not worth the risk.

At the fear of being labeled immature/unprofessional: i have found that in many cases i morally owe my employees reasons for their being let go. I have never had to release an engineer on behavioral issues, so i always try to be clear with them about paths to improvement. i'm certain this varies across companies, but in the startups i have worked for i've build very close relationships to many of my coworkers. i like…

The vast majority of the people I've had to fire have been salesmen who simply did not perform. At first I thought we should have a solid agreement with the sales person; one that laid down the expected metrics for the first 90 days and thereafter.

My attorney insisted I understand that when you fire anyone in California you must --you must-- say nothing pertaining to the reasons for the firing. I made the mistake of behaving like a human being once and it cost me thousands.

Re: Why I Was Fired From a Tech Startup and What My Boss Had to Say About It

#84

Post by FDpod »

HarrietJones wrote: post #59

I was cool with it until here : "Well it turns out I could [be fired], unless it could be reasonably inferred that I was being fired for being part of a protected class. So had my boss said “The CEO thinks you dress like a faggot” or “The CEO thinks that’s what a nigger would wear”, things would have been different. But as it stands, the fact that my boss told me I was being fired related to appearance at all was def…

It wasn't worth getting into within the post, but there were strong suggestions that the CEO may have listened to a podcast of mine where I talk about having been an escort, and many people think I come off as gay. "What your look may convey to clients" really wasn't my favorite thing to hear. http://www.fdpod.com/podcasts/episode-19-coming-out-vince-ma...

Re: Why I Was Fired From a Tech Startup and What My Boss Had to Say About It

#85

Post by ececconi »

mratzloff wrote: post #44
ececconi wrote: post #29

> Human Resources is not your advocate. Human Resources is a risk-assessment department. Powerful statement.

> Powerful statement. It's a bit naive to believe that HR is about anything other than protecting the company. Sure, employees have the side benefit of having someone to go to to answer questions about pay schedule, holidays, and benefits, but that's all it is: a side benefit. The real reason is to limit the company's legal exposure.

I know for me it's common knowledge now. But, it wasn't common knowledge for all employees when we first entered the company.

Re: Why I Was Fired From a Tech Startup and What My Boss Had to Say About It

#86

Post by redblacktree »

rfnslyr wrote: post #39
peter_l_downs wrote: post #19

> I was told that neither salary nor equity were negotiable, but I was sold on the promise of the company. Yo, fuck that. Everything is negotiable to one degree or another. That sounds like someone trying to take advantage of you.

I've never understood that. Just taking a job because OH MY GOD JOB. I've been in on going salary negotiations for over two months, all while they paid me the highest contrator salary just to have me stay on. Straight up said "Pay me X or I walk, thanks". 5 second meeting. FUCK company/corporate loyalty. I'm here to get paid so I can fund an adventurous life, not to make you richer. I'm here to make myself richer and…

I'd say in a healthy employee/employer relationship, you're both making each other richer.

Re: Why I Was Fired From a Tech Startup and What My Boss Had to Say About It

#87

Post by redblacktree »

logicallee wrote: post #36

I have a very different take here. I will delete it if it doesn't resonate with others: Those who live by the sword die by it. He particularly liked "you're a great cultural fit." That means you are JUST LIKE THEM. We can't say, "same race" (but it's true), we can't say, "same gender" (but it's true), and we can't say, "same taste in technology, living address, clothes and what you do on your off time" (but it's true…

> It also gives me access to talent at a multiple of talent to dollars that you cannot even dream of.

You not knowing the C-levels does this?

> Meanwhile the rest of you feel free to continue warming chairs with them.

Who's warming chairs?

Re: Why I Was Fired From a Tech Startup and What My Boss Had to Say About It

#88

Post by jtheory »

robomartin wrote: post #83
liquidise wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the fear of being labeled immature/unprofessional: i have found that in many cases i morally owe my employees reasons for their being let go. I have never had to release an engineer on behavioral issues, so i always try to be clear with them about paths to improvement. i'm certain this varies across companies, but in the startups i have worked for i've build very close relationships to many of my coworkers. i like…

The vast majority of the people I've had to fire have been salesmen who simply did not perform. At first I thought we should have a solid agreement with the sales person; one that laid down the expected metrics for the first 90 days and thereafter. My attorney insisted I understand that when you fire anyone in California you must --you must-- say nothing pertaining to the reasons for the firing. I made the mistake of…

Can you share more details of the story? I've been assuming this rule exists mostly to avoid the danger that you might accidentally phrase the reason for termination such that it could be treated as discriminatory... but this really sounds like the problem is deeper than that.

Re: Why I Was Fired From a Tech Startup and What My Boss Had to Say About It

#89

Post by coldtea »

cjensen wrote: post #26

His boss fired him and told him why? Never do that. When firing someone in an at-will state, just do it and explain nothing. Explanations can easily lead to lawsuits. It's just not worth the risk.

>Never do that. When firing someone in an at-will state, just do it and explain nothing.

That's what you got from this article? Yay for hypocrisy!

Re: Why I Was Fired From a Tech Startup and What My Boss Had to Say About It

#90

Post by jacques_chester »

Thrymr wrote: post #61
cheald wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then you'd have them sign it before you fire them for a bullshit, actually-worthy-of-a-lawsuit reason.

In which case, the waiver may be invalid anyway, since there are rights that you cannot legally waive.

A lot of waivers and disclaimers have no legal effect, but they deter people who don't know that.

Bluffing is part of legal risk management.

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