Elon Musk

[mullokintyre]

Elon has really upset the twittersphere with his latest missive.
FromZero Hedge

As some companies try and delicately walk the line between returning to the office and offering "work from home" benefits to their employees in a post-Covid world, Elon Musk has taken a stance without quite as much nuance.

“Anyone who wishes to do remote work must be in the office for a minimum (and I mean *minimum*) of 40 hours per week or depart Tesla," Musk wrote in a company email that was leaked this week.

“Remote work is no longer acceptable," was the name of the email. In it, Musk put his employees to a choice: return to your desks and offices or start finding work elsewhere. The email was reported on by Fortune.



“This is less than [what] we ask of factory workers,” Musk added, possibly in a nod to the company's Shanhai factory, which had Chinese staff building cars during 12 hour shifts and sleeping on factory floors due to Covid lockdowns.

"If there are particularly exceptional contributors for whom this is impossible, I will review and approve those exceptions directly," Musk wrote. "Moreover, the 'office' must be a main Tesla office, not a remote branch office unrelated to the job duties..."

Musk got some pushback for his comments (what else is new?) on Twitter this week, with some users arguing that Tesla could wind up losing too many of its staff as a result of the forced requirement.

Online, Musk confirmed the authenticity of the email and "made it crystal clear he had zero tolerance for those demanding the right to retain privileges," Fortune reported.

“They should pretend to work somewhere else,” Musk wrote.

Gotta love that last line.
Mick

 

[JohnDe]

Elon has really upset the twittersphere with his latest missive.
FromZero Hedge

Gotta love that last line.
Mick

The news this morning was talking about workers that work from home are putting in more hours and are at risk or mental health issues, which opens up a new set of problems for employers, health care, governments and insurers.

I can't find the Australian report that I hear this morning but this on from the US is pretty much the same -

Almost half of working people are at risk of job burnout, and people working from home are more likely to feel this way, as almost one in ten are burning out

 

[JohnDe]

 

[Trader X]

Little surprise that a billionaire workaholic expects everyone else in his company be willing to make similar sacrifices and share the same work ethic. The minimum 40 hour edict is a clear hint that the minimum expected is closer to 50 hours (paid only for 40hrs of course). No doubt many put in even longer hours. His enormous ego shines through with the assertion that only his particular model of wage slavery produces great new products. Americans are lazy sloths and shamefully want to work from home, model yourselves on our Chinese factory workers (they live to work) he bellows (very inspiring). Money motivates but Musk and types like him are very unpleasant to work for or with. Live to work, make the required personal sacrifices for our amoral company and the money we pay you or your fired! Been there, forever done with that.

 

[JohnDe]

Little surprise that a billionaire workaholic expects everyone else in his company be willing to make similar sacrifices and share the same work ethic. The minimum 40 hour edict is a clear hint that the minimum expected is closer to 50 hours (paid only for 40hrs of course). No doubt many put in even longer hours. His enormous ego shines through with the assertion that only his particular model of wage slavery produces great new products. Americans are lazy sloths and shamefully want to work from home, model yourselves on our Chinese factory workers (they live to work) he bellows (very inspiring). Money motivates but Musk and types like him are very unpleasant to work for or with. Live to work, make the required personal sacrifices for our amoral company and the money we pay you or your fired! Been there, forever done with that.

What is the pay rate at Tesla?

 

[Value Collector]

Little surprise that a billionaire workaholic expects everyone else in his company be willing to make similar sacrifices and share the same work ethic. The minimum 40 hour edict is a clear hint that the minimum expected is closer to 50 hours (paid only for 40hrs of course). No doubt many put in even longer hours. His enormous ego shines through with the assertion that only his particular model of wage slavery produces great new products. Americans are lazy sloths and shamefully want to work from home, model yourselves on our Chinese factory workers (they live to work) he bellows (very inspiring). Money motivates but Musk and types like him are very unpleasant to work for or with. Live to work, make the required personal sacrifices for our amoral company and the money we pay you or your fired! Been there, forever done with that.

I read it as being that you can work from home, but you are still required to be in the office for 40 hours, eg working at home wasn’t a substitute for coming into the office.

I don’t think he is talking about the base level workers, they would already be coming in, because you can’t build a car from home.

But he is probably talking about those up the food chain a bit that aren’t being paid by the hour anyway.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

It really is not a difficult concept.

Elon Musk is the employer.

End.

gg

 

[Trader X]

I read it as being that you can work from home, but you are still required to be in the office for 40 hours, eg working at home wasn’t a substitute for coming into the office.

Since when, before C19, Zoom, Teams and Slack? Other than workers assembling cars or those who specifically need to use devices or tech that's only available in the office would you actually need to be on premises. As an IT worker, there is NOTHING I can't do from home that requires office attendance. Well, there is the $3500 espresso machine so yes I can make better coffee there while enjoying all the noise and disturbances around me. Ever heard of digital nomads Elon? I read it as Elon throwing a hissy fit walking the giga factory floors after 3 hours of sleep in his office the night before and staring into the empty offices and cubicles of staff working from home, enjoying a good night's sleep and spending time with family (something he can't relate to). He can't see what you're doing or crack the whip so he's an untrusting and frustrated micromanager.

 

[JohnDe]

Since when, before C19, Zoom, Teams and Slack? Other than workers assembling cars or those who specifically need to use devices or tech that's only available in the office would you actually need to be on premises. As an IT worker, there is NOTHING I can't do from home that requires office attendance. Well, there is the $3500 espresso machine so yes I can make better coffee there while enjoying all the noise and disturbances around me. Ever heard of digital nomads Elon? I read it as Elon throwing a hissy fit walking the giga factory floors after 3 hours of sleep in his office the night before and staring into the empty offices and cubicles of staff working from home. He can't see what you're doing or crack the whip so he's an untrusting and frustrated micromanager.

What has your business designed, developed and manufactured?

 

[JohnDe]

It really is not a difficult concept.

Elon Musk is the employer.

End.

gg

Exactly. Especially when there is a high demand for workers, there are plenty of jobs at the moment. Anyone not happy with their current employment should go and find another.




US$ -

 

[Value Collector]

Since when, before C19, Zoom, Teams and Slack? Other than workers assembling cars or those who specifically need to use devices or tech that's only available in the office would you actually need to be on premises. As an IT worker, there is NOTHING I can't do from home that requires office attendance. Well, there is the $3500 espresso machine so yes I can make better coffee there while enjoying all the noise and disturbances around me. Ever heard of digital nomads Elon? I read it as Elon throwing a hissy fit walking the giga factory floors after 3 hours of sleep in his office the night before and staring into the empty offices and cubicles of staff working from home, enjoying a good night's sleep and spending time with family (something he can't relate to). He can't see what you're doing or crack the whip so he's an untrusting and frustrated micromanager.

Since the boss of the company says that’s they way he wants things done, is there really any other reason needed?

The is a lot to be said about being on site and working with your team directly, I recently booked a holiday in store with a travel agent, the whole thing was done in about 25 mins, my mother who is refuses to go into the store the talk directly is on day 5 of phone calls and emails trying to organise an almost exact holiday.

 

[Trader X]

The is a lot to be said about being on site and working with your team directly

I work with my team "directly", conference with them regularly and they are dispersed in other countries and cities. Face to face, in person meetings and activities do matter in certain professions and situations no doubt, sales and manufacturing in particular.

I do of course realize that Elon is the subject of hero worship and many idolize him for being a visionary in the EV space. For them, Elon is a tech god to be revered so they become advocates and apologists for everything he says and does. While I acknowledge his visionary genius, presentation and marketing skills, it's the engineers and technicians that design and innovate at companies like Tesla that are the heroes to me. They deliver the vision on Elon's whiteboard sketches.

The directive to be in the office 40+ hours a week is not about all of his workers being their most productive in that environment. The "great resignation" is happening in large part due to the attitudes of managers like Musk toward remote work. No doubt many have and will leave Tesla for this very reason.

 

[JohnDe]

I work with my team "directly", conference with them regularly and they are dispersed in other countries and cities. Face to face, in person meetings and activities do matter in certain professions and situations no doubt, sales and manufacturing in particular.

I do of course realize that Elon is the subject of hero worship and many idolize him for being a visionary in the EV space. For them, Elon is a tech god to be revered so they become advocates and apologists for every he says and does. While I acknowledge his visionary genius, presentation and marketing skills, it's the engineers and technicians that design and innovate at companies like Tesla that are the heroes to me. They deliver the vision on Elon's whiteboard sketches.

The directive to be in the office 40+ hours a week is not about all of his workers being their most productive in that environment. The "great resignation" is happening in large part due to the attitudes of managers like Musk toward remote work. No doubt many have and will leave Tesla for this very reason.

And what industry are you and your team in?

 

[Trader X]

And what industry are you and your team in?

SME business software solutions, design and engineering.

 

[moXJO]

SME business software solutions, design and engineering.

Not to hijack the thread, but do you enjoy your job or is it boring and a grind?

Know a kid interested in a similar field.

Also:
Elon is a social dipsht.
Probably just p1ssed he spent all that money on offices and decking them out when he could have just run it remote.
Not to mention the fact it would be hard for a control freak not to be able to crack the whip and have his plebs kiss his ar5e.

In saying that. Working from home can stretch the bonds of job loyalty of workers. To a point they become apathetic when receiving negative criticism of lazy work. Makes it easier for them to walk out.

Good management is about strengthening that bond to the workplace and create habits that anchor you and your loyalty there.

 

[JohnDe]

SME business software solutions, design and engineering.

Sounds exactly like the type of work that can easily be done over zoom and away from an office. Whereas working in a company developing something that was thought of as 'too far ahead of its time' and ensuring its survivability, while its much larger competitors try to catch up and stop your company by any means possible, well this company has to work more efficiently and with staff that are committed to the same goals. To ensure that happens, employees get compensated by high wages and benefits, stock discounts and the feeling that every member is equally important. The girl working on the factory floor shows up everyday, just like the guy in charge of factory human relations and the team involved with designing door handles, window switches. And so.

If Elon Musk sees an issue on the floor of the factory or the engineering plant or any of the many offices, it is his responsibility to sort it out and ensure the viability and longevity of TESLA.

Any abuse of workers rights is intolerable, and the workers have every right to call it out. The USA automotive worker is not shy to call strikes, even for the mundane.

Employees that feel that they are working more than they are being compensated for can easily leave and find work in another industry. Due to the shortage of workers there is currently pay rises across the US.

Tesla is currently one of the profitable vehicle manufacturers in the world. This doesn't happen by accident. Have a look at the debt ratios of all the manufacturers, have a think about how many may not be operating in the next 5 or 10 years and how many jobs will be lost. GM has been shrinking for the past 10+ years, they have pulled out of most countries. Ford are just keeping their head above water by selling a large Ute (F Series).

Just because you and your team can work from home does not mean that a large developing and ground breaking company can. Besides, why should the suits be able to work from the comfort of their home and get paid much higher than the people that build your tools? Sounds a bit like Animal Farm.

Lead by example, not by words.

 

[Trader X]

Not to hijack the thread, but do you enjoy your job or is it boring and a grind?

There are some boring aspects, documentation is particular, but it's quite technically challenging and everchanging. You can never really be complacent about your skillset, ongoing learning and skill development is required to keep pace with rapidly evolving tech and toolsets. Lots of time spent at the keyboard so important to stay active out of hours.

 

[divs4ever]

i was thinking of the commotion that memo would make at Twitter

 

[Trader X]

If Elon Musk sees an issue on the floor of the factory or the engineering plant or any of the many offices, it is his responsibility to sort it out and ensure the viability and longevity of TESLA.

It's only his "responsibility" if Elon is a micro manager (pretending to be a CEO) who does not trust his managers on the factory floor to do their job. Is he going to floor walk his giga factory in Fremont, then fly to China the next day to do the same? TESLA is a team effort, not a one man show.

Just because you and your team can work from home does not mean that a large developing and ground breaking company can. Besides, why should the suits be able to work from the comfort of their home and get paid much higher than the people that build your tools? Sound a bit like Animal Farm.

Since you know nothing about my company or the culture there, you're in no position to make such comments. I reiterate, the directive by Musk to be in the office 40+ hours a week is not about all of his workers being their most productive in that environment. If you have ever worked in such a sweat shop culture you would know how unpleasant it is to work for a micromanaging control freak on an ego driven power trip.

Literally thousands of "ground breaking companies" allow or even now prefer remote working for certain roles to save money and provide an improved work/life balance. An example of that "animal farm" you're referring to would be working 40+ hours as a factory floor worker at Tesla.

 

[Dona Ferentes]

I'm a great believer in the concept of the Water Cooler, where informal contact allows ideas to flourish.