Teaching Notes: Job insecurity at Thrive – Yaya’s stay-or-leave decision

This case examines the dual issues of job insecurity and decision-making under financial pressure through the perspective of Yaya, a young project engineer at Thrive, a Johannesburg-based provider of warehouse automation solutions. Thrive, founded in 2015 by Peter (Chief Executive Officer) and Mary (Chief Operating Officer), had grown to approximately 50 employees and built a reputation for innovation and employee loyalty. However, following the loss of a major client, the company posted an unprecedented financial loss in 2022. The founders disagreed on how to respond: Mary advocated for restructuring and transparent communication with employees, while Peter resisted, fearing that disclosure...