Andy Byron, CEO of Astronomer, gained notoriety after being caught on camera with HR head Kristin Cabot, leading to public exposure of his toxic and aggressive management style, which many former employees celebrated. His leadership history includes controversial stints at Cybereason, where his aggressive tactics led to high staff turnover and cultural shifts. Despite the controversy, he became CEO of Astronomer in July 2023, with the company securing significant funding.
Storylines, a startup founded in 2016, is facing backlash from investors and ex-employees over doubts about the construction of its residential cruise ship, the MV Narrative. The ship, which promises a luxurious and sustainable lifestyle at sea, has been plagued by delays and unfulfilled promises. Former employees and investors have accused the founders of breaking contracts and lacking credibility. Despite the skepticism, some buyers have put down nonrefundable down payments, hoping to live out their days on the ship. However, the track record of residential cruise ship projects is not promising, with many previous attempts failing.
Mortgage company Guaranteed Rate is demanding that ex-employees return their signing bonuses, ranging from $100,000 to a million dollars, on the basis that it was a loan. The company, along with its affiliates, has sued former employees who have refused to repay the bonuses, citing violation of agreements and promissory notes. The mortgage market has experienced a significant downturn, leading to lenders seeking the return of bonuses. The situation highlights the challenges faced by mortgage brokers in a struggling market and the legal disputes that can arise over signing bonuses.
Chipotle has agreed to pay compensation to former employees after closing a store that attempted to unionize. The fast-food chain has been accused of union-busting in the past, but has denied the allegations. Meanwhile, Chipotle is testing a robotic tortilla chip maker, which could potentially automate some of its food preparation processes.
