Boss tells staff to 'kill yourself or leave'

He later handed his resignation to gathered protestors. Photo / Caroline Patrickis / Twitter

A local government official has resigned after having a go at disgruntled emergency service workers in the United States.

Assistant County Administrator Kevin Bronson was responding to an eight-page list of complaints when he told a meeting of 100 firefighters and paramedics in South Carolina: "If it's really that bad you can just kill yourself or leave".

The widely published comments sparked a firestorm of criticism.

"People were crying, people were yelling at him. One we just lost a deputy because of suicide. I don't think he understands the gravity of the situation. We're not here for the money, we're here because we love what we do," an audience member told local news outlet WIS TV.

The TV station recently spoke to a number of current and former employees as part of an investigation into local emergency services, and reported they claimed it was a "harsh work environment" with issues such as understaffing, management problems, and long response times that led to completely preventable deaths.

"Those same sources also say nearly 100 people have quit in the past several years," WIS TV reported on its website.

David Arnold, director of a crisis management group for first responders called Debrief Incorporated, called Mr Bronson's words "absolutely appalling".

"To say that to first responders who deal with death and crisis situations every day was not only insensitive but it was unprofessional and it was childish," he said.

Mr Bronson has since apologised for his actions in an all-staff email, acknowledging his words were "insensitive".

"Those comments are my own and, while I regret them, I must live by them," he wrote.

"The disciplinary action I received was appropriate and the time I spent in the woodshed was both painful and appropriate."

He also addressed his casual reference to suicide, revealing a close family member commit suicide once he finished university.

"The pain of losing her in that matter is deep and everlasting," he said.

"I should not have allowed either the heat of the moment nor the situation to lead to a moment of such callousness."