Cryptic crossword clue
Former employer initially axed worker for performing 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word EXECUTANT

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
E
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "performing" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case performing = executant.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does EXECUTANT mean?

EXECUTANT noun
  1. A person who executes a dance or piece of music; a performer.
  2. A person who puts something into action, such as a plan or design.

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