“Imagine the depression of a fellow human who has cancer and thinks he’s going to be fired”
Too many have forgotten that other employees are watching. That person with cancer was a golden opportunity to be there for them. This is true in spades if they had otherwise been a decent employee. The lesson would not have been lost on the others.
Ironically, these same owners usually demand cultlike loyalty back from the employees.
Very true. I guess, until someone writes the book, we’ll not know what actually went on with the employees. My experience with seriously sick bosses is that the workers become alienated from each other as well - keeping their heads down to avoid punishment, sometimes tattling like children.