Ryan Breslow, the CEO of the prominent US-based fintech startup ‘Bolt’, has taken a stunning and unconventional corporate decision by firing his company’s entire Human Resources (HR) department. Breslow’s drastic move has become a major talking point across the global corporate sector. In a bold declaration, the CEO claimed that the HR team was guilty of inventing problems that did not actually exist, adding that the moment the entire department was laid off, all those artificial complications instantly vanished from the workspace.
This radical decision comes on the heels of a broader restructuring strategy initiated in April, during which Bolt downsized its total workforce by 30% following a sharp decline in the company’s valuation. Speaking at a conference hosted by Fortune, Breslow justified his actions by stating that elaborate HR frameworks are only suitable for massive corporate conglomerates. For growing startups like Bolt, he emphasized, the sole focus needs to be on a lean, high-performing team dedicated entirely to execution and getting things done.
The CEO strongly criticized the rise of an entitled workplace culture that prioritized comfort, perks, and employee benefits over actual productivity. To dismantle this environment and pivot back to a high-output model, Breslow not only dissolved the HR division but also scrapped the company’s previously implemented four-day workweek and its unlimited leaves policy. Moving forward, the startup aims to foster a culture focused strictly on performance and growth rather than administrative over-pampering.
