“Did you leave your brain at home?”: Goa-based Founder Fires a Senior Hire Within a Week for Saying This to a Junior Employee

In a candid LinkedIn post that’s gone viral, Goa-based startup founder Jatin Saini shared why he let go of a senior employee just five days after they were hired. 

The reason? Publicly humiliating a junior team member during an internal call.

The incident unfolded during a Friday evening assignment review, where the senior employee snapped at a younger colleague with a demeaning remark. 

Senior Executive’s Unprofessional Behaviour

According to Saini, the incident happened at 6 p.m. on a Friday, during an assignment review with a junior executive. The newly hired senior, frustrated by the quality of work, launched into an outburst:

“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,” said the senior employee. 

What was meant to be a routine feedback session quickly escalated into a moment of public humiliation. 

The aggressive tone and personal attack left the junior employee shaken and prompted Saini to immediately step in. It became clear that such behavior was not just a red flag but a breach of the values the team stood for.

A Clear Stand Against Toxic Leadership

Following the incident, Saini asked the senior employee to stay back on the call and made it clear that humiliation wasn’t acceptable especially right before the weekend.

“We don’t want anyone to end their day feeling humiliated, especially on a Friday,” he said. “We must give feedback on the assignment, not comment on them as a person.”

What followed was, as Saini described, “an hour-long ego-driven battle,” during which the senior hire defended their behavior, saying, “That’s how you build strong teams.”

That’s when Saini decided to let them go.

In closing, Saini shared that the team is now rehiring for the same position but with a clearer understanding of what matters. 

His final line struck a chord with many:

“We want to build personal brands without breaking people.”

It was more than a hiring update - it was a firm stand on the kind of culture today’s leaders need to champion: one where respect, empathy, and accountability are non-negotiable.

Netizens React 

Several LinkedIn users applauded the founder for calling out toxic behavior early. 

One user commented, “Bravo to you. This is something every founder should learn. Sometimes, everything falls apart not because of bad employees—but because of unchecked toxic managers.”

Another shed light on the emotional toll such experiences can take: “Humiliation can scar people. It’s not just about spoiling someone’s weekend. It can take years to recover from such moments.”

Some appreciated the timing of the decision, noting how important it is for leaders of lean teams to act quickly. “Good thing you found this and rectified it early. The perks of running a small, mindful setup,” one person noted.

While a few emphasized that disrespect is unacceptable on any day of the week, many found the Friday timing especially cruel. 

Overall, the response was overwhelmingly supportive, with many calling the post a “masterclass in people-first leadership” and a reminder that building strong teams starts with mutual respect, not fear or ego.

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