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Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

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Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#31

Post by exelius »

reduce wrote: post #8

Forcing employees to sign a non-disparagement agreement? -- Screw that. (Edit: force, compel, persuade, strongly hint: semantics.) Saying that a former employee violating a non-disparagement agreement means that it's now a good idea for the company to take use an eye-for-an-eye policy in return? -- What. No (American) non-executive employees should ever be forced to sign anything. I never have for any job. Employers…

1. They never forced anyone to sign it; but in general it's a stupid idea to talk poorly about a former employer in public. This guy was doing a fucking AMA on reddit about his time being employed at reddit. He knew he had been fired; and he had to know the truth was going to come out.

2. That's not what he said. The former employee speculated that he was laid off in retaliation for something or other; and the company replied with the actual reason for his termination in its own defense.

In general, if you were laid off or fired from a job, it's best not to spout off about it in public (especially on the site that used to employ you). It doesn't matter whether you signed anything or not; unless your former employer was doing something illegal and you're blowing the whistle, it's best to keep your mouth shut.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#32

Post by greenyoda »

reduce wrote: post #8

Forcing employees to sign a non-disparagement agreement? -- Screw that. (Edit: force, compel, persuade, strongly hint: semantics.) Saying that a former employee violating a non-disparagement agreement means that it's now a good idea for the company to take use an eye-for-an-eye policy in return? -- What. No (American) non-executive employees should ever be forced to sign anything. I never have for any job. Employers…

"Forcing employees to sign a non-disparagement agreement? -- Screw that."

There's no way an employer can force you to sign a non-disparagement agreement (or do anything else) after they've fired you - what can they do to you, fire you again? The ex-employee gets something in return (a "consideration" in legalese) for signing the non-disparagement agreement. For example, the company agrees not to say bad things about the employee, gives them severance pay, etc. In return for severance pay, the employee usually also signs a "general release" which absolves the company from any legal liability (wrongful dismissal suit, etc.).

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#33

Post by tedivm »

jyxent wrote: post #6

Is this legal? Where I live, I'm pretty sure this kind of public disclosure isn't allowed due to privacy laws.

Yes, it's legal (and I just looked this up to confirm). Many companies will avoid commenting on these things because if they are not 100% accurate they raise the risk of a slander/libel case against them. For instance, if it turns out that Yishan here misspoke about something he could land the company in a bit of trouble.

Whether legal or not, it's certainly childish. The fact is anyone could have seen that this was a disgruntled former employee so there wasn't a need to say anything at all. If they had to comment then keep it brief. However, getting into a flame war on reddit (even if you are the CEO of the site) just makes the whole company look bad. Heads of companies simple do not get involved in pissing matches with former employees like this without a hit to their own reputation.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#34

Post by LadyMartel »

[deleted] wrote: post #28
LadyMartel wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you know what kind of shitstorm would brew if he deleted the thread and banned him?

[deleted]

I don't see how it's different from calling out a former employer and spreading (what seems like) false information. Cruel and perhaps unprofessional, but not completely in the wrong imho.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#35

Post by e40 »

dreamweapon wrote: post #10

Sounds like a toxic environment. Whatever the employee may have done to deserve separation, it is profoundly weird and troubling (and also, implicitly threatening to all employees, whatever their rank or standing) to see a CEO discuss those reasons in public.

Seems the employee forced the issue, yes?

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#36

Post by exelius »

tghw wrote: post #12
jerhinesmith wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think you're forced to sign. That point is also lightly touched on in the comment - "the non-disparagement we asked you to sign" and "Even if you don't sign the non-disparagement". I've signed these before, and I was under no impression that I was being forced.

His signature was required for the severance package, according to him. https://np.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2iea97/i_am_a_former_r...

Then he shouldn't have signed the severance deal (which he didn't). An employer is not entitled to give you money to go away; they give you money in exchange for certain things, one of those being that you shut your mouth and not do an AMA on reddit about it.

This guy is an idiot and is likely going to have a hard time finding a job based on this behavior. What he's doing isn't illegal, but it's quite unprofessional.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#37

Post by myrandomcomment »

n0rm wrote: post #5
Igglyboo wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would it? Seems like a perfectly reasonable and professional response by yishan, shows investors that he isn't going to take crap from ex-employees trying to bad mouth the company.

Entrepreneurship in the making?

CA is an "at will" state. A company does not have to give a reason for letting anyone go. It is best practice NEVER to give a reason. If you provide a reason then you better be sure it is documented in detail and there is zero discrepancy between the documented reasons and anything that anyone could ever say in a court. If there is even the smallest issue with your documentation you could end up losing in court if you are sued. While posting this response might have felt good it is clearly not a smart thing to do. Reddit would have been better to delete the AMA and then sent a letter to the poster explaining the non-disparagement agreement and how it protects both parties. I would hope that a CEO would know better.

The person posting the AMA seems to lack the experience needed in dealing this this sort of thing and could of used a bit of help understanding the realities of work life. It is very reasonable to believe that he was angry on being let go but this is a life lesson and I hope in the future he is able to handle things better.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#38

Post by opendais »

dreamweapon wrote: post #10

Sounds like a toxic environment. Whatever the employee may have done to deserve separation, it is profoundly weird and troubling (and also, implicitly threatening to all employees, whatever their rank or standing) to see a CEO discuss those reasons in public.

No. If you make accusations in a public forum (as that employee did) the company is going to respond. That is a given and perfectly normal.

The guy basically said he was "laid off" followed by "because I pissed off management with my feedback". Claiming it was a retaliatory firing forces a response.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#40

Post by sgift »

arram wrote: post #24

Umm. It was pretty clearly not done for vindictive reasons. The guy lied about why he was let go and put Reddit in the awkward position of either saying nothing and letting people believe they're a shitty workplace that fires people for disagreeing with management, or telling the truth about why the guy was fired (not laid off.) Frankly, he brought this on himself by forcing Reddit into choosing between two sucky opt…

That's one interpretation - alternative: He said the truth, Reddit tries to get out of a bad spot and throws dirt against an ex-employee.
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