When Christmas Comes Early (and Not in a Good Way)
Picture this: it’s almost the holidays, you’re cozy on your sofa, and your boss schedules a Zoom call to invite you to say a merry hello. Instead of a nice holiday cheer, you’re told you’re fired.
The 900‑Strong Layoff
- Better.com’s CEO, Vishal Garg, announced the sudden sack during a three‑minute call that has reached viral status.
- “I don’t want to do this, the last time I did this, I cried,” he confessed, as the room filled with a chorus of “oops.”
- “If you’re on this call, you’re part of the unlucky group that’s being laid off. Your employment is terminated, effective immediately,” the CEO declared, sending the notification straight out of the Bluetooth.
- Reasons given: market efficiency, productivity, and performance — even though it’s weeks before Christmas.
Numbers to Note
Rumors had it that 15 % were let go, but the company clarified that only 9 % of its workforce—both in the US and India—were affected.
About Better.com
- Founded in 2016, the digital mortgage startup has already raked in US$750 million (S$1.025 billion).
- They’re on the brink of going public, and CNN says the IPO is on the horizon.
Garg’s “Bullying” Past
- In 2020, he sent out a harsh email: “You’re too damn slow, you’re a bunch of dumb dolphins, and dumb dolphins get caught in nets and eaten by sharks. Stop it, stop it, stop it right now.”
- That same year, companies were fire‑fighting remotely as many employees worked from home, stirring up a spike in retrenchment packages.
Bottom Line
This isn’t the first time a CEO has dragged a large number of people off their accounts through a screen. The key takeaway? The holiday season may come early, but it can also come with a swaggering “you’re out” that none of us expected.
