Techcrunch, specifically Michael Arrington, wrote a post about some ex-employee of SkyGrid making a twitter snit about her employment. Lots of interesting lessons and observations for you and your start-up.
Before we get to that part, I'll just offer up a respectful disagreement that these types of blog entries do anything to enhance Techcrunch. Trying to be a mini-Valleywag really takes away for the core value I suspect many people get from reading TC. No long speech about standards or journalism, etc, as it's his gig and he can do whatever he wants. Just seems to me there are about a billion other useful stories TC and it's hard working founder could offer up which would be 1000% more useful.
Anyway, on to your start-up. Angry employees is a reality of any company. Rarely is life perfect at most companies. In fact, it is so rare that you will see 'great places to work' or spreads about this or that company's great culture making headlines versus this behavior being the norm. So you have to expect some variation of this 'incident' will happen to you and your happy nest sometime. Here are my suggestions after watching these incidents from various perspectives and on all sides of the table.
First, be fair. I know, your fair is my outrageous and wtf does that mean but I'll say it again anyway; be fair. If somebody is backing up the truck and hauling computers out the back door, call the cops, but in most cases, go with being fair. This can mean things like pay adjustments, some extended benefits, use of an email account, etc. You want to be able to say you were fair and these days fairness will count for something.
Second, go see a lawyer. Oh put the Taser down, I'm not insane. Before you press the send key, sign the papers, do whatever, go see a friendly lawyer for a 30 minute chat on what is going on, what your options are, and how it should be handled. If you spend the time with a entrepreneurial focused lawyer like Rob Hyndman, you get both the dispassionate view of an outsider but also some concrete thoughts on how to handle most situations. I've maintained forever that a good lawyer will save you tons of money and gray hair in the long run. This is just another example of where they can help.
Third, put it in writing. It's nice to go out for a coffee and try to talk things over. That is all well and good but make sure you have a document that the other person can read when you are done. It should be something that basically covers what you spoke about. Stay on script is overly controlling but generally speaking to what is in the document and just being human about it will cover it. Then let the document be the guiding actionable.
I'm probably generalizing a massive amount here but given the up close and personal 'people issues' I'm watching and/or dealing with, I'm fairly confident if these three basics were followed to some degree, maybe the heat would come down a fee degrees in the kitchen.
Bonus: SkyGrid.
Ignoring all the noise, I'd suggest you check out SkyGrid's home page for some interesting observations. First, it is nicely done. Click on the more buttons. Nicely done. There is the buy now button so good on them for get the money now. I can't say if this is good/better then try before you buy but points for trying to get that cash.
And then, for fun, click on the buy now button. Yeah, you are seeing that correctly; 14 days to get a user name and password. VC backed, millions raised, two PhDs and a pitch about being this super cool, fancy, high tech service. I would think that the PhD in Cognitive Psychology (Walt) would tell the PhD in Computer Science (Rok) that people generally don't like coughing up 5 hundo for something and waiting two weeks for a name and password. But, whatta I know, I'm still trying to verify I graduated kindergarten.
Lesson for you: Watch that call to action. If you take a credit card payment, people are going to expect a bit of instant gratification or something close.
[Extra Bonus: Lord, people, let's all get along, eh? Michael Arrington is not the Anti-Christ and does not deserve this any more then you do, shezz...]
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