Tech startup doomed to fail after 4 employees concoct plan to quit together before the end of the quarter: 'It feels good to know [our CEO] has no idea'

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  via Campaign Creators

  A tech employee uses a black marker to write on a glass door in the conference room of a startup.

  _{Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}

• We’re all quitting. Although my manager is lovely, the CEO is a narcissist micromanager with no kind words to say.

  This anonymous source shared the story of how he and three other coworkers, with whom he collaborated closely, decided to plan their collective resignation after stepping up to the plate when their CEO was out sick for two months. We all know how it goes in these startup environments. When one person is out, everyone takes on their work. In this case, that meant everyone was taking on the CEO's work. This team might have admired their manager, but that wasn't enough to make up for their CEO's ingratitude when he returned to the office following his absence.

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  via Austin Distel

  Three coworkers collaborate in a tech startup environment.

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• It turns out that things were not exactly left the way the CEO liked them, which wasn't exactly the fault of his employees. It's not like he left them with much of a blueprint to work with when he was out. Instead of maintaining patience and understanding, when he returned, he spent the subsequent three weeks giving this employee and his coworkers a tough time. No thank you. Nothing. Just constant criticism. Here's what the employee had to say about those first weeks back:

  Since we’re a startup, the 4 of us worked our [behinds] off for two months. All we’ve heard the last three weeks [since] he has been back is everything we’ve done wrong and what we have to do better.

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  via Marvin Meyer

  An overhead shot of startup employees working at a communal desk on their laptops.

  _{Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}

• While it's clear that this team already harbored resentment for their CEO, his mistreatment during this period was the straw that broke the camel's back. After a particularly difficult week, the employee got together with his three work buddies and they collectively agreed upon what they needed to do next.

  We’re all leaving [before the end of the quarter]. Investors will be furious. 

• End of quarter will completely fail. $8 Million in sales pipelines left untouched.

  Now, leaving right before the end of the quarter in the startup world (especially on a sales team like this) can be considered a diabolical move. We believe, of course, that there is never a good time for anyone to leave. Given how poorly the CEO treated the sales team, it's not like they had much of an obligation to leave their team in a healthy place for him. After all, he never gave them a proper thank you when their team was in a good position. What would change that now?

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  via Austin Distel

  A group of startup employees meets as their manager addresses them in front of a whiteboard.

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• It feels so good to know he has no idea.

  Ah, we've all experienced the strange feeling of knowing something everyone does not in the workplace. This can be a challenge, depending on the circumstances. Still, even if this were a good CEO, these guys deserve to get their ducks in a row and line up their next positions before speaking too soon. It seems that the startup employee who shared this story was already spending what he presumed to be his final days at the company dreaming of a dramatic departure. Unfortunately, reality eventually sank in.

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  via Unsplash+ (Curated Lifestyle)

  A professional employee holds a cardboard box of personal items.

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  via Austin Distel

  The employees of a startup watch as their leader gives a presentation in the office.

  _{Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}

• Update: everyone’s upcoming commission check is too mouthwatering, apparently. I have had 2 unsuccessful interviews, and cannot leave until I find a job paying better than [those]. I’ve been accused of making things up, the new guy thinks I’m not giving him leads because I’m 'punishing him [for] being a closer.'

  Yes, just a few weeks after sharing his initial scheme, the employee followed up with members of this online community with an upsetting update. Not only had the team not informed their CEO yet, but it turns out that they were lured back in with advanced commission checks. 

  Sure, the money might seem necessary for now, but we hope this sales team knows that their treatment is likely not going to change when push comes to shove. It might be worth staying for a little longer just to collect that commission without looking bad, but those negative feelings will certainly come back soon.

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  via Anthony Garand

  A tech employee works at his desk with multiple monitors and a phone setup in front of him.

  _{Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}

• Here's hoping all works out for this guy as he continues his job search. Don't get too comfortable in that startup, kid. The CEO is just not worth it!

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