A founder based in Gurgaon has ignited a broader discussion regarding workplace norms after sharing his perspective on notice periods and employee accountability. Nikhil Rana, who established his startup The 15 just five months ago, took to LinkedIn to recount an incident involving a team member, including a screenshot of what appeared to be a WhatsApp conversation.<\/p>\n
In the exchange, the employee conveyed that they would be unable to participate in an upcoming event but were willing to assist remotely. The message read: \u201cHey Nikhil, I won\u2019t be able to make it for the event today. I tried to manage, but can\u2019t join. Let me know if there\u2019s anything I can support with from afar.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rana\u2019s reply was swift: \u201cYou\u2019re fired. Consider today your last day.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his LinkedIn post, he elaborated on his viewpoint, asserting that startups require individuals who are proactive and take full responsibility. \u201cStartups need: People who take ownership. People who founders can rely on. People with high agency. People who don\u2019t wait for the perfect moment. People who can \u2018make it happen,\u2019\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
In an interview with indianexpress.com, Rana expanded on his reasoning behind the abrupt dismissal and the company\u2019s policy of no notice periods. He mentioned that he shared the screenshots to impart a lesson, although he acknowledged that critical context was lacking.<\/p>\n
Rana explained that the dynamic in startups is markedly different from that in corporate environments. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of hustle and no structure for an extended period,\u201d he noted, adding that he had previously discussed his concerns with the employee but ultimately concluded that the individual was not a good cultural fit. He also revealed that the employee had a 5 percent equity stake in the company.<\/p>\n
The decisive moment, according to Rana, was when the employee withdrew from the event at the last minute. He claimed that both had invested time and resources into organizing it, with his contribution being approximately Rs 3-4 lakh, yet the employee canceled just an hour before the event commenced. \u201cIt clearly indicates they are not inclined to work. It demonstrates a lack of readiness to accept responsibility,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n
When asked if he attempted to understand the reasons behind the employee’s absence, Rana said he reached out the following day. \u201cI personally texted the employee, \u2018If you want to discuss an exit or provide feedback, I\u2019m happy to jump on a call,\u2019 but there was no response,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
indianexpress.com was unable to independently reach the employee since their identity was not disclosed, leaving only one perspective available in this situation.<\/p>\n
In his original post, Rana characterized notice periods as \u201ctheatre\u201d and \u201ca waste of time.\u201d He elaborated, stating, \u201cNobody accomplishes anything during a notice period,\u201d referring to it as merely a \u201choneymoon period.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also made a provocative assertion that \u201cskills have become secondary now,\u201d adding, \u201cPeople don\u2019t care about skills anymore; they\u2019re commoditized.\u201d Rana explained that with the influence of AI, skills are easily replaceable, whereas ownership remains valuable.<\/p>\n
However, Rana’s comments did not resonate well with many online. Several users expressed discontent with his views and the manner of the termination. One comment read, \u201cWhat an inspiring take! \u2018Skills have taken a back seat.\u2019 Exactly what anyone wants to hear. Why bother building expertise when you can just be on-call 24\/7, catering to every founder\u2019s whim and labeling it dedication? Clearly, the new standard is functioning like a machine, but the only thing designed for continuous availability is AI, not people. If this is a clever marketing ploy, that\u2019s even worse; it\u2019s not bold or aspirational, it\u2019s a toxic mindset that needs to be challenged.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another user highlighted the importance of hiring practices and workplace dignity, stating, \u201cYou didn\u2019t hire well or just brought someone on board for the sake of it. Each termination can hinder progress if the person is needed. Plus, we are human beings, and everyone deserves respect. It\u2019s a concept that seems foreign to many in India.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response to the backlash, Rana asserted that much of the criticism originated from individuals outside the startup ecosystem. \u201cMost comments come from corporate employees and those working in multinational companies. Those who aspire to achieve good work, earn money, and grow rapidly are the ones who thrive in startups, and no one from the startup community has commented on my post,\u201d he told indianexpress.com.<\/p>\n
Rahul Pratyush, with a background in major news organizations like India TV and The Indian Express, has cultivated expertise in high-speed digital journalism. His professional experience spans various topics, including health, sports, lifestyle, and entertainment, enabling him to approach trending stories from a diverse angle. Known for his live-event coverage and multimedia storytelling, Rahul effectively translates complex internet cultures into compelling narratives. He holds a postgraduate degree from IIMC and currently focuses on entertainment and celebrity coverage for The Indian Express and SCREEN.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A founder based in Gurgaon has ignited a broader discussion regarding workplace norms after sharing his perspective on notice periods and employee accountability. Nikhil Rana, who established his startup The 15 just five months ago, took to LinkedIn to recount an incident involving a team member, including a screenshot of what appeared to be a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6605,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[40,79,80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6607","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-india","category-in-trending","category-in-trending-in-india"],"yoast_head":"\n