Why You Must Get People Fired If You Want To Be A Good Person.

In January, I was doing a 5-day hike in the Sumatran jungle. The forest and animals were amazing, but my guide was awful. He continuously came up with excuses why we should cut our hikes short or not do them at all. Every day was a continuous battle with him to do the hikes I was promised.

I considered complaining to the business owner once the tour was over but I knew the guide would probably get fired. He wasn’t well off and needed the money to support his family. So instead I planned to tell everyone I met to avoid this company and leave a terrible Google review.

But I realised I had a moral obligation to get him fired after considering both the potential outcomes:

Outcome 1: I don’t complain (the easy option)

• The guide doesn’t get fired – good for the guide.

• I would tell everyone to avoid using this company - the business suffers through the loss of potential customers.

• Without feedback, the business can’t improve – again the business suffers.

• A future customer gets the same awful guide, and they also don’t enjoy their trip – another customer suffers.

• They then tell everyone else not to use this company – again the business suffers.

Outcome 2: I make the complaint

• The business can fix the problem by firing the guide or retraining them – the business improves.

• If the guide is fired, the company can hire a new person – someone gets a new job.

• The next customer gets a better experience – a happy customer (who will then recommend more people to the business).

• With all the points above, the business has the potential to grow and employ more people.

If I didn’t complain, everyone suffers except for the person at fault.

But if I do complain, everyone is better off except the person at fault.

Going back to my first concern: his family’s source of income will be negatively affected. Saying nothing means he can still provide for them but the business suffers affecting all the good and hardworking employees who are also providing for their families. It also affects the business opportunity to grow and so there will be a loss of potential jobs.

We all have a moral obligation to complain and get people fired – everyone is better off except the culprit.

But there is one condition: If you receive the opposite (brilliant service), you must sing the person’s praise to the owner and everyone else you meet.

There has to be balance.