A small tech company’s founder has found unexpected support after making the tough decision to fire her sister.
In a post on Reddit’s /r/AITAH, the 28-year-old CEO shared her dilemma about whether she was wrong for terminating her sister’s employment due to her sharing private family issues at work.
Titled “AITAH for Firing My Sister After She Exposed Our Family’s Darkest Secrets at Work?”, the post quickly went viral, amassing 12,000 upvotes and over 1,000 comments in just a few days, with most users supporting her choice.
The CEO, who goes by /u/redditor_influencer, had recently hired her sister after she lost her previous job, hoping to mend their “rocky relationship.” Describing herself as introverted and private, she highlighted the stark contrast to her sister’s extroverted nature.
Initially, the sister’s employment seemed promising, but the atmosphere shifted when the CEO noticed odd behavior among her colleagues. Tension peaked during a team lunch when someone joked about a personal family issue, exposing that the sister had divulged private matters, including their parents’ difficult divorce and their mother’s struggles with addiction.
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Upon confronting her sister, the CEO learned that her sibling believed sharing personal details helped her connect at work. “She dismissed it as no big deal,” the CEO recounted.
Ultimately, the sister’s ongoing breaches of privacy led to her firing. The sister reacted by accusing the CEO of letting her position affect her judgment.
Commenters quickly chimed in to support the CEO. One user remarked, “You didn’t choose work over family; she chose to jeopardize your reputation.” Another stressed the seriousness of the sister’s unprofessionalism, stating, “Work isn’t the place for family drama.”
Industry expert Winters noted that family dynamics can complicate professional environments, but stressed the inherent trust and shared vision that family businesses can foster. He shared his own experience working closely with his wife, appreciating the unique strengths they each bring to the table.
In an update, the CEO expressed gratitude for the supportive feedback she received, affirming, “I made the right decision to prioritize my business and team.”