It’s a job, well, done?
Getting fired is an unpleasant experience most would rather downplay.
But one recently laid-off laborer — who very suddenly lost her tech post with website security service Cloudflare — decided to document the “traumatizing” experience on video, subsequently broadcasting her plight on social media.
“Can you explain for me why Brittany Pietsch is getting let go?,” we see the psychologically-bruised brunette asking of the virtually-gathered human resources team, there to tell her — sans an explicit explanation — she’s been axed.
Pietch’s post, already viewed more than a million times on TikTok and X, shows corporate execs from the Atlanta-based company apparently giving her the heave-ho for failing to meet the brand’s performance expectations.
“I’ve been on a three-month ramp,” Pietsch, who was hired on August 25, told the assemblage of suits in defense of her performance. “I have had the highest activity amongst my team, I’ve had three contracts out, done a really great job managing my deals.”
“Also, every single one-on-one I’ve had with my manager,” she continued, “he’s given me nothing but ‘I am doing a great job, have had great activity, great meetings, I’m picking up the products very quickly. I make really great relationships with my clients.’”
“So, I disagree that I haven’t met performance expectations.”
The remote firing squad was unable to plainly state the cause of her booting during the 15-minute video call, attempting to bury her in vague talk about numbers and data.
HR reps did promise to try to get back to the ex-staffer with more details at a later date, however.
But Pietsch wouldn’t bite.
“I really need an explanation as to why Brittany Pietsch is getting let go,” she insisted.
“[Is it that] Cloudflare decided to hire too many people and they’re now realizing that they can’t afford this many people and they’re letting [them go],” she questioned. “If that’s the real answer, I would rather you just tell me that instead of make up some bulls–t right before I lose my job.”
A teary-eyed Pietsch then detailed the sting of being unceremoniously canned.
“It must be very easy for you to just have these little 10 to 15 minute meetings, tells someone they’re fired, completely wreck their whole life and then that’s it with no explanation,” she said. “But that’s extremely traumatizing for people…it’s a huge slap in the face.”
In a statement to The Post, a Cloudflare spokesperson explained that the company neither conducted layoffs nor did it engage in a reduction of force.
“When we do make the decision to part ways with an employee, we base the decision on a review of an employee’s ability to meet measurable performance targets,” said the rep. “We regularly review team members’ performance and let go of those who aren’t right for our team.”
And as it pertained to Pietsch’s video, the insider said: “There is nothing unique about that review process or the number of people we let go after performance review this quarter.”
Social media spectators showered Pietch with praise for standing her ground during the challenging chat.
“I’m so proud of you for standing up for yourself! They owe you so much more than this,” cheered a commenter.
“You handled yourself so professionally,” penned one of Pietch’s former co-workers. “You will find a company that values all of the strengths you have!!!.”
“They say it’s performance-based to try to get out of unemployment. Fight them on that and make sure to file,” urged a suspicious supporter.
“You gave them absolute hell, that was INCREDIBLE despite how upset you rightfully were,” another applauded. “I hope you get the justice you deserve.”
Pietsch isn’t the only content creator to share footage of their own termination.
On Friday, TikToker Sierra Desiray Frederick, 22, a recent college graduate from Tennessee, went viral by revealing that her bosses gave her the boot after only six days of work, claiming that the higher-ups failed to provide her with proper training.
And back in April, Jen Lucas, from Atlanta, was filming a “cute” day-in-the-life video in the style of director Wes Anderson when she was surprisingly sacked from her role at Amazon.
“I know it’s not about my performance or who I am as an employee,” she said in a follow-up snippet. “But that doesn’t make it suck any less.”