Rizwan Mahmood, a four‑year operations veteran at Estonian ride‑hailing firm Bolt, was dismissed via video call in March 2025. He refused a two‑month severance that required labeling the exit as “mutually agreed.” Instead, he leveraged ChatGPT to draft a legal challenge and lodged a complaint with Estonia’s Labour Dispute Committee in June. He documented the call and posted it on LinkedIn, sparking tech‑community support.

During the hearing, Bolt argued Mahmood “could not cope with his duties,” citing verbal and written feedback but offering no formal performance‑improvement plan. Mahmood countered with positive reviews and highlighted the absence of any warning. The 90‑minute session concluded with the committee ruling in his favor, ordering €14,500—roughly three months’ pay—be paid to him.

Bolt’s spokesperson said the case “does not reflect the wider company” and pledged to review processes, while director Jahanzeb Ahmed noted one incident should not define the organization. Mahmood, a Pakistani national, warned that public disputes in Estonia can hurt future job prospects, yet he launched a startup and urges workers to retain documentation, understand local labour law, and never sign under pressure firmly.