A startup founder based in the United States has issued a public apology following criticism for reaching out to an employee on their wedding day.
A J Orbach, who is the co-founder and CEO of Triple Whale, made a post regarding an employee, Dylan Gifford, who briefly accessed work communications during his wedding festivities. This post has since been removed. Gifford had previously been granted leave but felt compelled to respond to a work-related message.
The post on X quickly garnered significant attention, accumulating over 1.9 million views. While some users commended Gifford for his commitment, many others expressed concerns about the expectations set in the workplace and the pressure to remain accessible during important personal occasions.
Two days later, Orbach addressed the situation with a statement in which he apologized. He explained that he had been offline for nearly 48 hours to observe Passover amidst the growing backlash.
“I tweeted about reaching out to an employee on his wedding day, then logged off to observe Passover. When I returned, I found my post had gained 1.9 million views and over 600 predominantly negative comments. Many criticized my intention, my leadership, and the culture of the company I’ve dedicated five years to building. I understand their concerns,” he stated on X.
In response to the criticism, Orbach conceded that contacting an employee during such a significant moment was inappropriate. He acknowledged that while his enthusiasm was genuine, it ultimately reflected a lack of judgment. He also offered a direct apology to Gifford and emphasized that this incident did not align with the company’s core values of integrity and respect.
“I recognize that my excitement led me astray in this instance, and for that, I am truly sorry. To the employee I should not have messaged, and to everyone at Triple Whale for not embodying our values, I apologize. I care deeply about this company, perhaps too much at times. This was one of those moments. It is my responsibility to lead by example, and I will strive to do better—for myself, for Triple Whale, and for the community I hold dear,” he concluded.
