Pinterest CEO Bill Ready fired multiple employees who created an internal tool to track layoffs at the company, calling them "obstructionist" in a company-wide memo. The move is either tone-deaf management or calculated intimidation, depending on how generous you're feeling.

Here's what happened: As Pinterest conducted layoffs in recent weeks, a group of engineers built an internal tracker to monitor which teams and roles were being eliminated. The tool was shared internally, giving employees transparency into the scope of cuts. Management was not amused.

Ready's memo, obtained by CNBC, accused the employees of "creating tools designed to undermine the company" and said their actions were "incompatible with Pinterest's values." He terminated them immediately.

Let's be clear about the power dynamics here. Pinterest has eliminated hundreds of positions over the past year as it struggles to compete with TikTok and Instagram for advertising dollars. The company's revenue growth has stalled at around $3 billion annually, and its user base has plateaued at approximately 500 million monthly active users.

Employees watching colleagues get laid off wanted information about the scope and pattern of cuts. That's not obstructionism. That's basic workplace transparency. But Ready apparently views employee organization as a threat.

The legal question: is this retaliation? Labor attorneys will argue this could violate protected concerted activity under the National Labor Relations Act. Employees have the right to discuss working conditions, and tracking layoffs arguably falls under that umbrella. Expect potential legal challenges.

The business question: what does this say about Pinterest's culture? Tech companies love to talk about transparency and employee empowerment until employees actually try to organize or seek information. Then suddenly it's "undermining the company."

The tech industry power balance has shifted dramatically. During the 2010s boom, employees had leverage. Companies competed for talent with lavish perks and promises of mission-driven work. In 2026, with mass layoffs across the sector, executives are reasserting control. Build a layoff tracker? You're fired. Question the strategy? You're next.

Pinterest's stock has been under pressure, trading around $32 per share, down from pandemic-era highs above $80. Activist investors have been pushing for cost cuts and efficiency improvements. This firing sends a message: stay in line or get out.

For employees at Pinterest and across tech: the message is received. The days of employee power are over. Management is back in charge, and dissent will be punished.

The absurdity is that the tracker probably revealed information that would have leaked anyway. Now Pinterest has a PR disaster, potential legal exposure, and a workforce that's either terrified or furious. Great management.