Influencer blasted for smiling in LinkedIn post about ‘firing his first employee’
A Colorado-based entrepreneur has outraged social media users after he smiled in a selfie in a post about letting go of one of his employees.
Matthew Baltzell posted a photo on LinkedIn last week of him smiling at his desk and revealing that he had fired his first employee.
The entrepreneur and influencer used the LinkedIn post to explain what he learned after giving the now-former employee the axe.
Baltzell said, “Handling an employee’s departure can strengthen or weaken your company culture.”
Baltzell founded Elite Podcast Bookings in May 2020 before changing the name to CAP X MEDIA last March.
Matthew Baltzell, a Colorado-based entrepreneur, sent social media into a frenzy after posting a smiling selfie on LinkedIn a week after firing an employee
Baltzell used the LinkedIn post to provide a structured explanation of what he learned after firing the now-former employee
Baltzell, headquartered in Denver, described CAP X MEDIA on LinkedIn as a company that “helps real estate investors build their brand and raise capital through digital media.”
The entrepreneur did not identify the former employee or indicate that he or she worked for CAP X MEDIA, but he did share other information.
Baltzell divided his explanation of the dismissal into four parts: a 10-minute meeting, a severance package, a recommendation and transparency.
He kept the meeting ‘short and direct’ and confirmed that he was giving ‘a week’s pay for every year of work’.
Baltzell noted that he had offered to be the former employee’s reference for future jobs.
Baltzell founded Elite Podcast Bookings in May 2020 before changing the name to CAP X MEDIA last March. The company is headquartered in Denver
Baltzell claimed in his LinkedIn post that he “remained clear and honest” after firing his employee.
He explained that he informed other colleagues about what happened after the meeting with the former employee ended.
“I sent a message via Slack to let everyone know that the employee was no longer with us, without providing any details,” Baltzell wrote.
‘I provided the ex-employee’s contact details to the team and encouraged them to get in touch if they wished.’
The LinkedIn influencer chose to be open and honest with his team so they know he respects their decisions about their future at the company.
“This approach shows my team that if they ever have to leave, they will be treated with respect and not thrown away like trash,” Baltzell wrote.
He added that the former employee handled his termination “professionally and with grace.”
While the former employee may have handled the firing gracefully, LinkedIn and Threads users were less accepting of Baltzell’s methods and his choice of photos.
Baltzell caused outrage, especially at Threads
“I would never work for someone who was so insecure about his own leadership that he had to share the semantics during his first layoff experience,” one LinkedIn user wrote.
“Leaders don’t behave like this, you lose the credibility of your philosophical beliefs and sound like a holier-than-thou gossip.”
Another Threads user posted a screenshot of another negative comment on the LinkedIn post, writing, “He should be the one fired.”
However, a few LinkedIn users appreciated the influencer’s post, with one person praising him for his handling of the situation.
“Your approach to handling the dismissal process with transparency and respect is commendable,” a LinkedIn user commented on the post.
“Having a structured overview for future conversations helps the process.”