The startup company I am working for this summer began imploding today. Three of the four salespeople in the LA office took me aside to let me know their last day will be Monday. It was pretty sad news because I liked them. At least they made me part of the in-group before they hit the road.
The afternoon was spent huddled in a darkened office, drinking vodka mixed with organic juice. People exchanged stories about our disaster of a CEO and generally got high off of the act of complaining with abandon. They recounted the time sheriff's deputies put a lien on the company's assets and commandeered the cash register, taking money out to pay off our creditors. The time the CEO tried to kiss the sales manager over one of the many dinners he pressured her into sharing with him. (This was on a day, by the way, when the plumbing in the cafe backed up and the poor cafe manager had to go at it with Drano and a plunger -- unable to call the building for help because we are two months late on rent.) Other people in the office stopped by to listen and contribute their own memories.
Afterward, I went with one girl (who is not quitting yet) to work an evening event. Monday should be very interesting.
I learned a few lessons:
1. Trust your gut. If a potential boss seems kind of untrustworthy and someone you wouldn't really want to be around, chances are that this will turn out to be true.
2. Employees can be good, hardworking and fun people despite being managed by execrable management. (I've been looking for someplace to say execrable.)
3. Don't ignore warning signs. When the first employee you meet on your first day at work answers your question of "How do you like working here?" by shrugging his shoulders and replying,"Eh," this is not a good sign.
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