Trying to convert c++ to php code

Employee& Database::addEmployee(string inFirstName, string inLastName)
{
    if (mNextSlot >= kMaxEmployees) {
        cerr << “There is no more room to add the new employee!” << endl;
    throw exception();
}
    Employee& theEmployee = mEmployees[mNextSlot++];
    theEmployee.setFirstName(inFirstName);
    theEmployee.setLastName(inLastName);
    theEmployee.setEmployeeNumber(mNextEmployeeNumber++);
    theEmployee.hire();
    return theEmployee;
}

The source code is from c++ professional, not complete source code.

Can I write somthing like this in php...Is it possible? if so can you show me. I'm just learning php..thanks