"If They Cheat at Home They'll Cheat at Work,"—Says CEO Who Fired Employees for Extramarital Affairs

A top US entrepreneur recently revealed a decision that has sparked intense debate on social media. In a podcast, she said that she fired two employees without hesitation after learning about an incident in their personal lives. After her comments went viral, the internet was divided into two, with support and criticism.

Confession on the Podcast

Natalie Dawson, co-founder and president of Cardone Ventures, recently participated in the popular Diary of a CEO podcast. There, she said that she fired two employees as soon as she learned about their extramarital affair.

Dawson claims that it didn’t take her a moment to make this decision. She makes it clear that she cannot accept such behavior in her work environment.

Why Such a Decision?

According to Dawson, if an employee betrays her personal life, she may not be trustworthy at work either. She says that a person’s character cannot be divided into parts. Therefore, behavior at home can also affect the workplace. In her words, such people pose a risk to the entire team.

Host’s Different Opinion

However, podcast host Steve Bartlett disagreed with Dawson. He said that it is not the job of an organization to control the personal lives of employees. As long as the problem is affecting the work of the office, it should be seen as a personal matter. The two had a long debate on this question.

Viral Reaction

More than a million people have watched this part of the podcast after it was spread on social media. Many have praised Dawson’s decision as an example of courageous and ethical leadership. According to them, it is important for a leader to ensure the integrity of employees.

Others say that losing a job for a personal relationship is unfair and that it is an interference with the personal freedom of employees.

Explanation on LinkedIn

After the controversy escalated, Natalie Dawson clarified her position in a post on LinkedIn. There, she wrote that removing someone from a job is not a punishment but a way to protect the environment of the organization. According to her, a leader should not compromise on ethics, even if it is uncomfortable.

Social Media Discussion

In the online discussion, someone said that trust is the most important thing in business relationships and that it comes from character. Another questioned how reasonable it is to ruin a professional life for a personal mistake.

However, many believe that this debate will create a larger discussion about ethics and personal freedom in the workplace in the future.