Insensitive.
That best describes the way the chief executive of a US mortgage company, Better.com, terminated last week the services of 900 employees through video conferencing via Zoom.
In that call to the employees, the executive said a reduced and focused workforce was needed to enable the company to meet the challenges of changing home ownership conditions in the United States.
Then, he dropped the bombshell, “If you’re on this call, you are part of the unlucky group that is being laid off. Your employment here is terminated. Effective immediately.”
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His remarks were described by the employees and in social media as “callous,” “harsh,” and “a horrible move” in light of the coming holiday season.
Stung by the adverse criticisms, he apologized for the manner he handled the dismissal of 15 percent of the company’s workforce and said, “I failed to show the appropriate amount of respect and appreciation for the individuals who were affected and for their contributions to Better. I realize that the way I communicated this news made a difficult situation worse.”
