In November 2024, a story spread like wildfire across social media and news outlets: a CEO fires employees on Slack fired almost his entire workforce — via a message on a workplace chat app. The company? The Musician’s Club, a small online musical‑instrument retailer. The act? 99 out of 110 staff and freelancers lost their jobs, hours after they “missed” a morning meeting — told in blunt, even profane language, via a Slack message. Fortune+2HR Grapevine+2
This event brought to light the growing tensions and risks in remote work culture, gig‑like internships, and how much power some startup CEO fires employees on Slack hold — and what happens when that power is wielded without the usual checks on fairness or empathy.
Here’s a closer look at what happened, who’s involved, and what the fallout says about modern work.
The Incident: What Happened at The Musician’s Club
On November 15, 2024, the CEO fires employees on Slack of The Musician’s Club, Baldvin Oddsson — addressing the team via Slack — declared that everyone who failed to show up to a scheduled morning meeting was fired. Fortune+2Digital Music News+2
In his message, he wrote:
“For those of you who did not show up to the meeting this morning, consider this your official notice: you’re all fired.” Entrepreneur+1
“Out of 110 people, only 11 were present this morning. Those 11 get to stay. The rest of you are terminated. Get the f–k out of my business right now.” Fortune+2TechSpot+2
He instructed the dismissed staff — many of whom were freelancers or interns — to “return any company property, sign out of all accounts, and remove themselves from the Slack workspace immediately.” Fortune+2Moneycontrol+2
According to a former intern who posted about the incident on social media, some people were let go only an hour after joining the company. Entrepreneur+2BreezyScroll+2
The dramatic announcement triggered a major backlash online, especially after screenshots of the Slack message went viral on Reddit and then were picked up by news media. HR Grapevine+2mint+2
Who Is Baldvin Oddsson? The CEO Behind the Message
Baldvin Oddsson is listed as the founder and CEO fires employees on Slack of The Musician’s Club (and its subsidiary, The Brass Club). HR Grapevine+2Facebook+2
Publicly available personal details and background are sparse. While there are older records of a musician named “Baldvin Oddsson (trumpet)” from a young‑artist programme, those pertain to a person active around 2010 — likely not the same individual running this e‑commerce startup today. From the Top+1
From what can be gathered: Oddsson appears to be someone combining musical background (or at least the branding of music) with e‑commerce entrepreneurship. On LinkedIn, he claims experience with The Brass Club / The Musician’s Club. LinkedIn+1
However — at the time of writing — there is no reliable public data about his age, height, family, net worth, or other personal background details that meet journalistic verification standards. The lack of transparency about his personal and professional history remains one of the many points critics have raised about the situation.
Because of this, any descriptions of “age, physical appearance, family, net worth” would be speculative — and as a conscientious writer, I choose not to include unverified claims.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Baldvin Oddsson |
| Age | N/A |
| Height | N/A |
| Family | N/A |
| Occupation | CEO, The Musician’s Club |
| Company | The Musician’s Club (Music e-commerce) |
| Net Worth | N/A |
| Physical Appearance | N/A |
| Known For | Firing 99 employees via Slack in 2024 |
| Social Media | LinkedIn: Baldvin Oddsson |
| Notable Incident | Mass Slack firing of staff for missing a meeting |
| Industry | Music retail / E-commerce |
Why It Shocked So Many — The Harsh Reality of a “Slack Firing”
Remote + informal work culture gone wrong
Many of the 99 people fired reportedly were unpaid interns or remote freelancers — often classical music students or young people seeking “experience.” Digital Music News+2AOL+2
This meant they had minimal employment protections, limited formal contracts (if any), and likely depended on informal communication (like Slack) rather than structured HR.
Because of that informality — and uneven schedules — it was unsurprising that a large number of “staff” didn’t show up to the meeting. Some claimed they received no notice at all. Digital Music News+2The Economic Times+2
In effect: many of the “employees” may have viewed themselves as volunteers or interns — but were still treated as full‑fledged staff when it came to termination.
The brutality of tone and timing
The firing message didn’t just dismiss staff; it used profanity, pressure, and a hard ultimatum — “Get the f–k out of my business now.” Fortune+2Moneycontrol+2
For many, this came across as not just unprofessional — but emotionally callous. The abruptness — some people literally lost their roles an hour after joining — added to the sense of shock and unfairness. Entrepreneur+2BreezyScroll+2
Questions about fairness and notice
CEO fires employees on Slack, Critics have wondered: was the meeting even properly announced? If a company expects 100-plus people — many remote interns — to show up to a single meeting at short notice, that suggests extremely poor coordination.
On Reddit, one commenter wrote (about the situation):
“I assume the CEO fires employees on Slack failed to inform the team about that meeting. I cannot believe that 99 people will fail to attend a meeting if they got informed.” Moneycontrol+1
Others speculated the mass firing was less about discipline than a convenient way to downsize without severance or accountability. mint+2The Economic Times+2
What Were the CEO’s Reasons — And What He Claimed Afterwards
From Oddsson’s point of view, this drastic move was about discipline, standards, and seriousness.
- He argued that missing the meeting was a breach of contractual obligation and demonstrated that many workers weren’t serious. Digital Music News+2HR Grapevine+2
- He framed the firings as a “cleanup” — a way to show that only committed, responsible people remain. HR Grapevine+2The Economic Times+2
Following the backlash, he posted on LinkedIn (without apology) — claiming that the move had “backfired” on critics in his favor. According to him:
- The company’s website traffic surged to over 20,000 views. Entrepreneur+2HR Grapevine+2
- Sales reportedly reached an “all‑time high.” The Economic Times+2Entrepreneur+2
- He claimed hundreds of new job applications were arriving daily. HR Grapevine+2The Economic Times+2
In his own words: “Firing those individuals was the right move for our organization … we are stronger than ever.” Entrepreneur+2HR Grapevine+2
Backlash — From Public, Media & Industry Observers
The reaction to this mass “Slack‑firing” was swift and severe.
- Many media outlets used words like “rage firing” to describe the dismissal — framing it as emotionally charged and unprofessional. Fortune+2TechSpot+2
- Former and current employees (or interns) shared experiences online — some said there was “virtually no notice.” Digital Music News+2HR Grapevine+2
- On forums like Reddit, users questioned the legality and morality of firing unpaid interns / remote contractors en masse — especially given fuzziness around contracts and obligations. Hacker News+2The Economic Times+2
- Labor‑rights advocates and general commenters criticized the CEO fires employees on Slack tone and timing, calling the move exploitative and emblematic of toxic startup culture. mint+2Digital Music News+2
Some pointed out the paradox: using unpaid interns (often desperate for work experience), expecting full-time commitment, then firing them en masse at the first sign of “mistake.” TechSpot+2HR Grapevine+2
It’s not just one company’s scandal — it’s become a cautionary tale about what can go wrong when remote work, casual labor, and rigid control collide.
Broader Implications: What This Means for Work Culture and Remote Startups
The story of The Musician’s Club is not just about one dramatic firing. It reflects deeper issues in the modern workplace — especially in startups, remote companies, and gig‑style labor models.
Remote work requires clear communication — not ultimatums
In-person offices have structure: schedules, HR, oversight, formal processes. Remote workplaces rely heavily on digital communication — Slack, emails, notifications. That works — if there’s clarity, advance notice, and fairness.
But when management depends on last-minute meetings and treats remote interns as full-time staff with strict expectations, things can go very wrong.
This incident shows that remote companies need: clear contracts, transparent communication, realistic expectations, and — when it comes to termination — empathy and dignity.
The risk of “startup exploitation” — interns as cheap labour
A big part of the uproar stems from the fact that many of those fired were unpaid interns or freelancers. In many creative or startup‑adjacent sectors, unpaid internships are still common — offered as “experience” or “learning opportunities.”
But when such interns are expected to behave like employees — attend meetings, meet deadlines — yet lack protections and compensation, the ethical lines blur.
The mass firing exposed one stark reality: an intern can be just one Slack message away from unemployment.
Reputation, trust, and long-term damage
Yes — the CEO fires employees on Slack claimed the firing brought more traffic and applications. But it also triggered widespread criticism, distrust, and public outrage. For many, a company run like this is a red flag: unstable, unfair, and uncaring.
In the long run — especially if The Musician’s Club wants to attract serious talent — such a reputation can be difficult to shake.
A wake-up call for employers everywhere
CEO fires employees on Slack, This saga serves as a powerful warning for other startup founders and small-business owners: the tools that make remote work efficient (Slack, messaging, distributed teams) can also make it easy to cut corners on professionalism and humanity.
If leaders value long-term stability, culture, and employee loyalty — they must pair remote convenience with structural integrity: fair contracts, clear policies, respectful communication, and — above all — empathy.
Final Thoughts:
The firing of 99 people at once by a CEO fires employees on Slack, for missing a meeting — is jarring. It feels, to many, like a throwback to brutal authoritarian leadership rather than modern, humane management.
At surface level, maybe it was a dramatic “clean‑house” to rally only the “serious” team members. But beneath that is a cautionary lesson about power, control, respect — and responsibility.
For workers and interns: it shows how precarious informal, unpaid, or gig‑style roles can be. It underlines the importance of clarity — does your role have contracts? Is there legal protection?
For employers and founders: it highlights the real cost of launching a business on hustle‑culture and unpaid interns. Quick gains — web traffic, social media attention — might come at the price of trust, reputation, and long‑term viability.
Ultimately — firing people is serious. Doing it with empathy, fairness, and transparency matters. Doing it with a Slack message and a profanity-laced tirade? That may make headlines — but for all the wrong reasons.
FAQs
Q: What does it mean when a CEO fires employees on Slack?
A: CEO fires employees on Slack means the company leader dismisses staff using Slack instead of in-person or formal email communication.
Q: Why do some CEOs fire staff on Slack?
A: CEOs fire employees on Slack for quick communication in remote teams, though this method is often seen as unprofessional.
Q: Is firing employees on Slack legal?
A: CEO fires employees on Slack can be legal depending on contracts and local labor laws, but informal messages don’t replace proper legal procedures.
Q: What are the risks of CEO fires employees on Slack?
A: Risks include damaging company reputation, lowering morale, public backlash, and potential legal or ethical issues.
Q: Has a CEO ever fired many employees via Slack?
A: Yes, in 2024, Baldvin Oddsson CEO fires employees on Slack, dismissing 99 of 110 staff at The Musician’s Club, which went viral online.
