A Delhi-based founder has ignited a heated online discussion after publicly sharing his decision to terminate a new employee just two days into their tenure. Varun Gupta, the founder in question, posted on LinkedIn about the swift dismissal, drawing strong reactions from users who are divided over whether the action was decisive leadership or a harsh judgment.
The Incident: A Lack of Ownership on Day One
According to Gupta, the new hire joined on the day of a significant internal company event. While not expected to lead, the employee was anticipated to participate and support the team. Gupta recounted that after working hours, as the team stayed late to manage the event, the new hire reportedly walked in, observed the activity, and then left without informing anyone.
When Gupta later called the employee, he claims the individual stated that as a new hire, managing the event was the responsibility of their peers, not their own. Gupta questioned this perspective, highlighting the employee's apparent hesitation and uncertainty during their conversation.
Founder's Stance: Intent Over Skills
Gupta explained his immediate decision, noting that the team was short-staffed again the following morning, which was one of the busiest days of the quarter. He revealed that he disregarded advice from his HR team and colleagues, who suggested waiting longer before making such a drastic move.
“I once fired an employee on Day 2. HR advised me to wait. My team thought I was being too harsh. But somewhere I knew waiting would make it worse,” Gupta wrote. He emphasized that while technical skills can be taught, attributes like ownership and intent are revealed much earlier. “Skills have a learning curve. Knowledge can be transferred. But intent? Intent shows up before the ID card does,” he asserted, concluding that the employee showed him “who he was before he even had a desk.”
Netizens Divided: Leadership vs. Learning Curve
The founder's post quickly became a focal point for debate on startup culture, expectations for new employees, and the role of leadership in fostering a new hire's integration. Many users criticized Gupta's decision, arguing that it represented poor leadership and did not allow the employee a fair chance to adapt or learn.
“Transforming people is one of the toughest aspects of leadership. That's precisely where leaders are expected to make a difference. Firing an employee on just the second day, before giving them a fair opportunity to learn and improve, struck me as a poor example of leadership,” one user commented.
Another user took a harsher view of the company's environment, stating, “Just because you happen to be the CEO of a company doesn't mean you are always right. You saved that guy from a toxic environment that you must have built over the years.”
Conversely, many supported Gupta, aligning with his emphasis on immediate ownership and communication. “This is not about expecting a new hire to be perfect; it is about expecting basic ownership and communication from day one,” a supporter wrote, while another added, “Your judgement is valid if you have asked him to do something and he left without showing the output or progress to anyone.”