Underperformers ‘get six weeks to improve or must go’, Revolut’s Nik Storonsky tells startups

Nik Storonsky says high-growth startups should focus resources on retaining and promoting top performers while removing underperformers as quickly as possible. In his view, staff who are identified as underperforming should either leave immediately with an enhanced separation package or get six weeks to show above-bar performance.

The piece says these ideas appear in a new Quantumlight playbook from Storonsky, who says it condenses lessons from building Revolut. It also notes that the report recommends performance reviews every six months, promotions based on performance rather than tenure, bonuses for the most impactful employees, and a talent team that reports to the CEO instead of HR.

Reading notes

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• Startups should direct resources toward retaining and promoting top talent.
• Underperformers should be exited as fast as possible.
• Employees who are underperforming should either take an enhanced separation package and leave immediately or get six weeks to prove above-bar performance.
• Quantumlight’s playbook is presented as a step-by-step guide founders can use in tech startups.
• Storonsky says the report condenses years of learning from Revolut.
• The report says talent should be a core priority of the CEO’s office rather than sitting under HR.
• It recommends individual performance reviews every six months.
• Promotions should be based on performance rather than tenure.
• The largest bonuses should go to the most impactful staff.
• The report describes A-players as the biggest contributors to company success.
• The article notes criticism of Revolut’s workplace practices and mentions a response that aimed to make the environment more approachable, respectful, and human.