Overview
- Nikhil Rana, founder of The 15 in Gurugram, posted on LinkedIn on April 9 a WhatsApp screenshot showing he fired an employee within minutes after they said they could not attend an event and offered remote support.
- In his caption, Rana endorsed a no‑notice policy, called notice periods theatre and a waste of time, and said startups need people with high agency who simply make it happen.
- He also wrote that skills have taken the last seat and are now commoditised, a claim that drew pushback from professionals who argued expertise still matters.
- The post spread widely on LinkedIn, with many users calling the move harsh and lacking empathy, while some defended tougher expectations at young companies or asked for missing context about the role and event.
- As of the latest reports, there is no public follow‑up from the company or the dismissed worker, and the episode remains an online flashpoint over Indian startup management and employee rights.