A video of an employee getting fired over a conference call has gone viral online. The video was posted to TikTok by Brittany Pietsch, who works for US-based IT services company Cloudflare as a mid-market account executive. The video has garnered Thousands of views in two days.
In the video, Pietsch, is shown in a virtual meeting with HR executives at Cloudflare. She is told she’s being laid off over performance, but the representatives cannot provide more details. Pietsch is stunned at the news and asks why her manager was not a part of the call and why she’s been singled out for this meeting over other employees.
During the 15-minute call, the remote firing squad failed to state the reason for the layoff plainly and instead tried to bury the information in technical talk about numbers and data. Pietsch used her newfound viral fame to press the reps for more information, but they were unmoved, and she was ultimately let go. The video has sparked debate over whether the incident was a case of layoffs (which Cloudflare denies) or termination due to underperformance.
Many supporters of Pietsch’s video have praised her for standing up for herself. One person wrote, “They owe you so much more than this. Fight them on that and make sure to file.” Others questioned why the company would only offer vague reasons for her termination and pushed her to demand more information from the CEO.
In his response to the video, Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince writes that it’s “painful for me to watch.” He writes that he respects Pietsch and appreciates her defending herself. He also points out that some of her coworkers experienced layoffs just before Pietsch and notes that the company is trying to improve transparency and accountability in the workplace. Prince explains that the company has no performance metrics based on an employee’s salary percentage, as most employees work at different pay rates. He also points out that the company’s performance is measured regarding customer satisfaction.
In the post, Prince also addresses the viral video of his daughter’s dance recital and reveals that he is “a proud dad.” He says he’s been humbled by the community’s support for his family. To learn more about Cloudflare and its services, visit the official website. This content delivery network provider helps web developers keep their websites, apps, and blogs fast and secure. Its global network of servers helps reduce web latency and deliver content closer to users’ physical locations. It also protects websites from security threats and supports privacy and free speech. The service has become a popular option for small and large businesses alike.