[kaashif]

The story is wildly different based on what job the person has. Are they supposed to be a senior-ish employee who is supposed to know what to do without being told? (Pardon my ignorance) Do people at agencies usually get assigned tasks by a project manager and that's it, they have no agency or independence in picking up tasks?

If a senior engineer who's supposed to be independent and who knows that messages me on a personal number while I'm on vacation, I probably wouldn't fire them immediately, but that person is unlikely to be considered a high performer.

Totally different situation for a panicking junior, which is a situation that means I've done something more wrong.