In an unprecedented move, Baldvin Oddson, CEO of the Wyoming-based online music retailer Musicians Club, fired 90% of his staff after they missed a single morning meeting on November 15. The shock termination, carried out via a Slack message, resulted in 99 of the company’s 110 employees and freelancers losing their jobs.
Oddson’s message to the team left no room for doubt, stating: “For those of you who did not show up to the meeting this morning, consider this your official notice: you’re all fired.” He cited failure to attend meetings and fulfill contract obligations as the key reasons for the mass layoffs. While 11 employees who attended the meeting retained their positions, the rest were ordered to sign out of all accounts, return company property, and consider their contracts terminated.
The company’s reliance on unpaid remote interns, many of whom were students seeking work experience, played a role in the controversy. Workers often had differing schedules, making it difficult to set a consistent meeting time, which Oddson expressed frustration over. Many employees, some of whom had worked with Oddson for years, were reportedly caught off guard by the sudden firing.
Despite the uproar, Oddson remained defiant, posting on LinkedIn that the decision had been beneficial for the company. “Our traffic has surged to over 20,000 views, sales are at an all-time high, and we are receiving hundreds of applications daily,” he boasted, adding that he stood by his actions and the values of the company.
The CEO’s actions have sparked backlash online, but Oddson remains unapologetic, even proudly displaying a “#HIRING” banner on his LinkedIn profile.
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