This Guy Fired His Entire Staff On The Spot On His First Day As Boss. Here’s Why!

Yes. My entire staff.

And I would do it again. In a heartbeat.

It is now over 20 years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I worked for a finance company as a regional sales manager, operating out of our Chicago branch office.

My boss, the regional operations manager, was terminated on a Friday afternoon, due to not catching a very large fraud committed by one of our customers. (She made a mistake, but it was a very large, very expensive mistake). I was offered the job within an hour, and after a little deliberation, decided to take the position. The staff were generally happy in their jobs, a little upset due to the circumstances surrounding my boss’ termination, but supposedly OK. I pretty much got along well with the staff, though the fact that someone from sales was being promoted to management raised a few eyebrows.

So, I was told to go to the corporate HQ In Kansas City on Monday morning, fill out some paperwork, and spend a few days learning what was expected of me in my new position. It was assumed that everything would function as normal, since most of the staff had been employed for a couple of years.

So, I get off the plane at 7:30, arrive at the corporate office at 8:30, finish up in HR by 9:00, and am 15 minutes into a meeting with my new boss when we are interrupted by an “urgent” phone call for me. The customer service manager told that they were not happy (the entire staff), and if I were not back in the office that afternoon, that everyone would walk out.

Wow.

First day on the job.

I did not even know my formal duties.

I felt 100% betrayed by people I had worked alongside for a couple of years.

So, I hung up the phone, saying nothing, with my face turning red and steam coming out of my ears. Told the corporate guys what was going on. They told me, handle it as you see fit. We will bring you up to speed in a few days.

I taxi back to the airport, and get on the first flight back to Chicago.

I walk into the office around 2:00, and everyone is acting like there is nothing wrong.

I find the ringleader, and he says, “There are problems you need to fix… NOW!”

“OK”, I say. I call everyone to the conference room (about 30 staff).

“This is my first day on the job. I was just at the corporate office trying to get my bearings on what needs to be done, and my authority to make changes. I received a call that everyone would walk out unless I returned this afternoon. Well, I am here.”

So, I turn to the ringleader and ask, “What was so urgent that it could not wait two more days?”

He went through a list of “demands”, and I quietly listened.

When he was finished, I said, “I have heard what you are saying, and agree with most of the list. Everyone who wanted to walk out, do you agree?” I polled everyone on the staff, and all but two hands went up.

“Fine. I understand there are some legitimate grievances. However, you all did not even give me a chance to solve the problems. These demands were made within 30 minutes of my taking the position. This means that I cannot rely on any of you. You are all fired”.

I pick up the phone and called building security.

They were watched as they cleared their desks one by one and were escorted off the property. I called our Louisville office, and transferred the calls there for a week until I could hire new staff (except the two who stayed out of it… I promoted them both).

It raised a few eyebrows in HR, but corporate backed me up and I had hired new staff within a week.