Better call Saul! A Short Novel on Amateur Leadership.
Gut am Arbeitgeber finde ich
Toilets are clean ;)
Verbesserungsvorschläge
Fair warning: This isn't fiction. It's a real case study in how poor leadership leads to legal and financial liability for companies. And excellent stand-up material for everyone else.
Chapter 1: The Meltdown
During a meeting with one of the company owners, a disagreement over the aesthetics of a landing page triggered what I can only describe as a disproportionate outburst of rage towards me. Screaming, personal attacks, made-up accusations - a fascinating performance of someone completely losing their grip on a professional environment. To me, grotesque; to other colleagues, routine. Apparently, it was not the first time they witnessed this kind of show.
It was also the occasion on which I learned the German word “Fremdschämen”. Few languages, I have come to appreciate, are quite so remarkably effective at giving a name to a very specific form of human embarrassment.
Chapter 2: The Hoovering
In the following weeks, I experienced what felt like a clumsy charm offensive: exaggerated friendliness, pretty smiles and plenty of meaningless small talk. No acknowledgement of the incident, no apology, zero accountability.
Chapter 3: The Smear Campaign
At the same time, I was informed by a colleague that, behind my back, I had been recast as 'the problem'; a rather interesting shift in perspective, one might say ;)
Chapter 4: The Retaliation
In an email, written calmly some time later, I made a simple and polite request: that future communications be kept respectful and professional.
The response was…interesting, although not entirely unexpected: my employment was terminated 48 hours later - after I returned from sick leave.
The verbal explanation I was given? A decline in marketing numbers that apparently occurred overnight. The mysterious figures behind this alleged catastrophe were, of course, never shown to me. It remains one of the great unsolved puzzles of our time. ;)
Even more puzzling is the fact that the dismissal letter cited…generic operational reasons. So, so confusing!
Chapter 5: The Plot Twist
I took legal action. The labour court proposed a settlement with financial compensation and a very positive reference letter, which I accepted. A pleasant outcome, especially considering that the company employed less than 10 people at the time.
Chapter 6: The Lawyer Strikes Back
I was dismissed in September 2025. In July 2026, the company contacted Kununu through lawyers to request the removal or correction of this review.
Twice.
Almost a year afterwards.
One might have hoped that, by now, more interesting things would have come along to occupy one’s time. Apparently not. At least, not for everyone. ;)
A useful reminder, perhaps, for employees and prospective applicants: if you are considering joining, or remaining with, this company, document everything, and keep it. You never know when the sequel might arrive!
Epilogue & Acknowledgements
This sequence of verbal aggression, shifting narratives, and a termination shortly after requesting respectful communication speaks for itself - no further comment needed.
>>To prospective employees: Legal insurance is a surprisingly worthwhile investment, and cheap too. As an example, Ver.di offers full coverage from just 20€/month. As my experience shows, having legal backing does make a difference.
>>To my former colleagues at both Clevver and der Taler: you were, and
still are, the one part of this bizarre story I’m genuinely glad to keep. Thank you for the support during those weeks, the gossip, the laughter, and the friendships that came out of it. Stay awesome!