'I Stand By My Decisions': A CEO Is Going Viral For Firing Almost All of the Company's Employees — Here's Why The Musicians Club CEO Baldvin Oddsson fired 99 workers at once over Slack for missing a morning meeting. But there's a catch.

By Erin Davis

The CEO of the online instrument store, The Musician's Club, fired almost all of his employees and freelancers (99 out of 110 workers) for missing an early meeting in a profanity-laden Slack message.

"For those of you who did not show up to the meeting this morning, consider this your official notice: you're all fired," the message from CEO Baldvin Oddsson reads, per the music-focused outlet, MusicTech.

"I gave you an opportunity to make your life better, to work hard, and to grow. Yet you have shown me that you don't take this seriously. Out of 110 people, only 11 were present this morning. Those 11 get to stay. The rest of you are terminated," the message continues. "Get the [f---] out of my business right now."

MusicTech heard audio clips from internal meetings and verified the Slack conversations. An anonymous worker told the outlet there was "virtually no notice of a meeting."

On Reddit, in a now-deleted post, a former intern said they joined the company in an unpaid cybersecurity role on November 15, and "an hour" after starting on their first day, the CEO fired most of the staff.

"The company is just a startup…[It] relies on remote interns," the post said.

Despite the press and endless debates on LinkedIn about hiring unpaid staff (and then immediately firing them), Oddsson is not only standing behind his original message but doubling down in tone and substance.

Last week on LinkedIn, Oddsson posted, "Over the past weekend, I've received an overwhelming amount of attention—both positive and negative. While some attempted to 'cancel' me, it has completely backfired. Our traffic has surged to over 20,000 views, sales are at an all-time high, and we're receiving hundreds of applications daily."

"I've had more than 300 messages, including inquiries from CEOs, industry leaders, and major newspapers requesting interviews," the post continues. "I stand by my decisions and the values we uphold. Firing those individuals was the right move for our organization, and we are stronger than ever."

Fortune labeled it "rage firing," a spin on the employee side of "rage quitting."

If you called a last-minute morning meeting, and no one showed up, how would you handle the situation? According to Harvard Business Review, the No. 1 rule for managers (and life, really) is: "Don't text when you're angry. Ever."

The outlet recommends never communicating "in the middle of any strong negative feeling" because the "subtleties of feeling are often lost in texts and emails" and "being a skillful communicator takes thoughtfulness."

Erin Davis

Entrepreneur Staff

Trending News Writer

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

This Couple Started a Side Hustle to Improve a 'Terribly Made' Bathroom Essential. Now the Business Earns More Than $3 Million a Year.

Michael Fine and Lisa Schulner-Fine launched lifestyle brand Quiet Town in 2016 and have been growing it ever since.

Business News

What's Open on Easter Sunday? Costco and Target Will Close, But One Major Retailer Will Be Open. Here's What To Know.

The stock market was closed for Good Friday on April 18. Here's what's closed for Easter Sunday, April 20.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Marketing

The One Mistake Is Putting Your Brand Reputation at Risk — and Most Startups Still Make It

Many businesses pour resources into branding and marketing but overlook PR — yet it's PR that builds the trust, credibility, and reputation that turn attention into lasting revenue in a crowded market.

Social Media

With This LinkedIn Algorithm Change, Your Best Posts Could Reach New Readers for Months

It's one of many new features rolling out on the platform in 2024.

Growing a Business

Founders Are Missing This One Investment — But It Could Be the Most Profitable One You Make

When founders are empowered with support, grounded in their vision and guided along their path, everything flourishes.