Black Friday Sale! 50% Off All Access

'Now Hiring Non-Stupid People': Texas Pet Store Owner Posts Controversial Sign After Employee Lasts 3 Days Walter Parsons is trying to "weed out" the people who aren't up to snuff.

By Amanda Breen Edited by Jessica Thomas

Most employers want smart employees with strong work ethics.

But one Texas pet store owner took that desire to the next level, Houston television station KHOU 11 reported, posting a sign requesting "non-stupid" applicants.

Walter Parsons, the owner of Pets Gone Wild Resort in Pasadena, Texas, said he put up the sign after being less-than-impressed with former employees, claiming one wouldn't get off their cell phone despite his warnings.

"We're trying to weed out the people that do come in," Parsons says. "We hired one last week that lasted three days."

Of course, Parsons isn't the only employer navigating today's retention issues. Last year, Gartner predicted that companies would see a year-over-year turnover rate 50-75% higher than the norm.

Still, not everyone was happy with Parsons' attention-grabbing announcement.

"The fact that they felt so emboldened to put something up there like that, it's disgusting, it's distasteful and it's unprofessional," one Pasadena resident told the outlet.

Amanda Breen

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior Features Writer

Amanda Breen is a senior features writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate of Barnard College and received an MFA in writing at Columbia University, where she was a news fellow for the School of the Arts.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Living

These Are the 'Wealthiest and Safest' Places to Retire in the U.S. None of Them Are in Florida — and 2 States Swept the List.

More than 338,000 U.S. residents retired to a new home in 2023 — a 44% increase year over year.

Business News

DOGE Leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Say Mandating In-Person Work Would Make 'a Wave' of Federal Employees Quit

The two published an op-ed outlining their goals for their new department, including workforce reductions.

Starting a Business

This Sommelier's 'Laughable' Idea Is Disrupting the $385 Billion Wine Industry

Kristin Olszewski, founder of Nomadica, is bringing premium wine to aluminum cans, and major retailers are taking note.

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.

Business News

These Are the Highest Paying Jobs Available Without a College Degree, According to a New Report

The median salaries for these positions go up to $102,420 per year.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.