Jatin Saini, founder of Goa-based startup House of Creators, has received widespread praise after sharing on LinkedIn that he fired a senior executive just five days into the job for publicly humiliating a junior employee.
The incident occurred during a routine assignment review on a Friday evening. During the meeting, the senior executive lashed out at a junior team member, saying:
“Did you leave your brain at home? If this is the best you can do, you should look for a new job. Bring your brain tomorrow or don’t bother coming.”
Saini, who was present on the call, immediately intervened and asked the senior to stay back for a private conversation. Stressing the importance of respectful communication, Saini reminded him that feedback should target the work—not the person. “We must give feedback on the assignment, not comment on them as a person,” he noted.
However, the private discussion quickly deteriorated into what Saini described as an “hour-long ego-driven battle,” with the executive defending his behavior, claiming, “That’s how you build strong teams.” Realizing this was a poor cultural fit, Saini made the decision to terminate the hire.
In his post, Saini emphasized that leadership must be grounded in empathy and respect, not intimidation. He wrote, “No one should be made to feel humiliated, especially going into the weekend.”
The story resonated across LinkedIn, with professionals applauding Saini’s quick action and sharing their own experiences with toxic leadership. Many praised him for prioritizing workplace dignity over hierarchy.
House of Creators has since reopened hiring for the position, with a renewed emphasis on emotional intelligence and company values. As Saini summed it up:
“We want to build personal brands without breaking people.”