Layoffs have begun at Barstool Sports, a few weeks removed from founder Dave Portnoy taking back full ownership of the company.
Portnoy discussed the situation on Barstool Radio this week with KFC. He said having those hard conversations with people informing them they’re being let go is the worst.
“I’ve been very clear. Anybody that’s paid attention, we are going to have layoffs and cuts, and they’ve started and it sucks,” Portnoy said. “And people who know me from the beginning I hate firing people. You can be incompetent, not work and I generally don’t fire because I hate it so much. It’s the worst thing to f–king do.”
“Having said that, we’re in a position it’s a no-brainer,” he added. “It’s not like I have that moral – well you can’t do it because nobody will have jobs. We’ll all not have jobs. So we have to get back to a break even thing. We’re losing a lot and it sucks.”
Dave said given the nature of layoffs, those that remain have no choice but to work just as hard to fill any gaps and move the company forward.
“People have to step the f–k up,” he said, adding that folks need to take on a do more, not less attitude even when problems arise.
“We’re gonna have issues. I get it,” Portnoy said. “There will be issues because people have been let go, and things will break. It’s like, ‘Oh we actually need that person.’ I get that, but we’re gonna have to figure it out.”
