The brutal way in which a loyal General Motors employee was unceremoniously fired has sparked outrage across America.
Adam Bernard, 60, had been employed at GM for nearly four decades when he received an email out of the blue at 5:07 a.m. on Friday, November 15.
It informed the Michigan-based employee that he had been fired as part of a global mass layoff.
Shocked, he turned to Linkedin to share the news, writing: “Well, in unexpected news, I was fired from GM by email at 5:07 am this morning, along with (unofficially I hear) about 1,000 people worldwide. I wonder what to do now…?’
He never thought his short post would catch the attention of a recruiting coach, Joel Lalgee, who lives hundreds of miles away in Wisconsin.
Lalgee discovered that Bernard had worked for the company for 38 years made a TikTok expose the company’s cold behavior.
“Imagine being fired after 38 years of loyalty at a company?” Lalgee commented in the video. “This man literally worked for GM longer than I was alive. That’s a lifetime of loyalty that you have to let go of via email.’
The TikTok quickly went viral, racking up more than 1.6 million views and sparking an outpouring of anger online.
Adam Bernard, 60, had been employed by General Motors for nearly four decades when he received an email out of the blue at 5:07 a.m. on Friday, November 15
Bernard’s LinkedIn post caught the attention of Joel Lalgee, a recruiting coach in Kenosha, Wisconsin, whose TikTok video about Bernard’s story went viral
Bernard, who lives in Royal Oak, had never heard of Lalgee and wasn’t even using TikTok.
He only discovered his story circulating on social media when friends started messaging him.
Bernard had fallen in love with cars when he was just three years old and his father gave him a Hot Wheels car. Detroit Free Press reported.
He had started his GM career in 1986 after graduating from MIT and later earning an MBA from Harvard Business School through a GM fellowship.
As associate director of competitive intelligence, he followed industry trends and contributed to GM’s strategic insights.
In addition to his professional role, Bernard led GM’s LGBTQ+ employee group for 16 years.
Despite the sudden end to his career, Bernard remained friendly and said he had nothing negative to say about GM.
Reflecting on a 2023 buyout offer that he turned down, Bernard said it only took him about an hour to decide. He realized that he really enjoyed his work and hoped to continue.
Fortunately for Bernard and his husband, a retired nurse, financial problems are not a pressing concern.
Over the years, he was disciplined about saving, putting bonus money into his retirement fund and working with a financial planner since the beginning of his career. Before the dismissal, he had already considered retiring in January 2026.
However, he acknowledged that others affected by the layoffs may not be in the same position.
Lalgee’s video about Bernard sparked widespread debate about corporate loyalty and the treatment of employees
Still, the callous method of his firing left a sour note for many, and Lalgee’s TikTok sparked widespread conversations about corporate loyalty and the emotional toll of layoffs.
“It stirred something in people,” Bernard told the Detroit Free Press.
Many commentators expressed frustration with company practices, citing disparities between executive pay and employee treatment.
“The CEO of GM made $26 million this year, and they have billions in profits. Unbelievable,” one user commented.
Another added: ‘Looks like they did it just before he retired – no coincidence.’
Layoffs at GM reflect a broader trend in the auto industry.
In November 2024 alone, more than 11,500 automotive jobs were cut, of which GM accounted for 1,000.
Despite strong profits, companies like GM continue to reduce workforces to prepare for future economic uncertainties.
For Bernard, the transition has been a mix of reflection and optimism.
He remains active in the automotive industry and cherishes the unexpected support he has received from colleagues and strangers alike.
After 38 years with General Motors (GM), Bernard received an email at 5:07 a.m. on November 15 informing him of his layoff, along with approximately 1,000 other employees worldwide.
“It helps to talk about it,” he said. “There’s still a shock that I’ll probably never fully get over.”
The unexpected connections fostered by social media have been a bright spot.
‘Ten years ago I wouldn’t have had as much confidence in myself and my career as I do now. People I’ve never met have supported me,” Bernard said.
And as president of Detroit’s Lambda Car Club, Bernard continues to pursue his passion for cars, as evidenced by his 1972 Austin Mini and his 1963 Buick Riviera.
DailyMail.com has reached out to GM for comment.