Founder fires 2 employees after finding out they were cheating on their partners: 'Can't have cheaters'

Natalie Dawson, co-founder and president of Cardone Ventures, sparked a heated debate after she told "The Diary of a CEO" podcast that she immediately dismissed two employees when she learned they were having an extramarital affair. Dawson said she regarded the dishonesty as a liability to her company’s culture of trust and performance.

According to Dawson, the termination was “an instant decision”: as soon as she discovered the affair, she let go of both individuals. She told host Steven Bartlett that she “can’t have cheaters” in her organisation, arguing that someone who cheats in their personal life might also be unfaithful in business.

Dawson said she viewed personal integrity and professional ethics as deeply intertwined. “If somebody has a problem in their personal life, they're the same person that shows up to work,” she said. She maintained that part of her role as leader is to protect a values-driven culture.

When questioned whether she would fire someone for cheating even if it occurred outside work, Dawson replied in the affirmative. She remarked: “If they’re going to cheat on the person they’re supposed to spend the rest of their life with, do you think that they’re cheating on their work? … That person in any environment is a liability.”