A CEO who faced flak for posting a "crying selfie" on LinkedIn as he revealed the firing of his employees is back in the news-this time for announcing the death of his grandmother on the job-networking site.??
Braden Wallake,?chief executive of the US-based online marketing firm?HyperSocial, took to LinkedIn to inform his 43,000 followers that ¡°my grandma passed away today.¡±
¡°I got the text from my mom, closed my computer, and headed straight over to her house. While driving to my moms, I was reminded days like today are why I do what I do.¡± Wallake wrote.?
Wallake revealed that the experience made him realise that "there is more to life than working."
"See, hustle culture has developed us into thinking that we have to choose between success at work OR having a personal life.?I¡¯ve been there.?Especially for business owners, entrepreneurs, sales people, and sales leaders," he said.?
He said he had sleepless nights and skipped fun things for work. In addition, he also missed important events.??
"But the reason I started HyperSocial was to help these same people build their business in the background so they can go have fun, spend time with family, do the important things that matter besides work, be next to people that matter," he added.?
Wallake¡¯s post didn't go down well with LinkedIn users.?
"This post went from the bad news of grandma passing to promoting the company. Sad for you in many ways," a user commented.?
"Such a sad post, to use your Grandmom's death as a way to promote your company," another user wrote.?
"OK, so you only devote one line to inform about your grandma's death...and not one word about her, or how wonderful she was...or how she will be missed? Yet we write a novella about your thoughts on life/work balance, followed by how your company is so great. Shame on you," another user said.
"This is really low. Using a tragedy, for such a post? To hell with engagement and clicks and everything. While I am sorry for your loss, I had to locate this post and write this. Not all engagement is a positive one, nor will it bring something positive," another added.??
Earlier in August, Wallake was ridiculed for posting a ¡°crying selfie¡± while announcing layoffs at his company.
He had posted a photo of himself crying while trying to explain why a few employees had to be laid off from his company.
Wallake has said that despite the layoffs, the company has always been a people-first business. "We've always been a people first business. And we always will be. Days like today, I wish I was a business owner that was only money-driven and didn't care about who he hurt along the way."???
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