Elon Musk has called for all Tesla employees to stop working remotely and return to the office or be fired.
Like any other company, Tesla has allowed remote work for all functions where possible since the COVID-19 pandemic hit 2020.
As the pandemic subsides, these companies have been re-evaluating their distance work policies. Many of them have come to the conclusion that workers are as if they are no longer productive when working remotely and have decided to allow workers to continue working remotely. Others have been encouraging employees to return to the office.
Now it’s Tesla’s turn, and the company definitely falls into the latter category.
CEO Elon Musk sent out a series of emails yesterday that basically ask employees to go back to the office or leave:
Anyone who wants to do remote work must be in the office for a minimum (and I mean * minimum *) 40 hours a week or leave Tesla. This is less than what we ask of factory workers.
The CEO added that there may be some exceptions, but that he will review and approve them himself, which is a good way to encourage people not to ask for exceptions.
In a follow-up email, Musk reminded employees that he set the example by sleeping in the factory:
The bigger you are, the more visible your presence should be. That’s why I lived so long in the factory, so that those on the line could see me working alongside them. If it hadn’t, Tesla would have gone bankrupt a long time ago.
Finally, the CEO investigated the companies that still allow remote work:
Sure, there are companies that don’t require it, but when was the last time they shipped a great new product? It’s been a while.
Here are the full emails:
First email:
Subject: Distance work is no longer accepted
Anyone who wants to do remote work must be in the office for a minimum (and I mean * minimum *) 40 hours a week or leave Tesla. This is less than what we ask of factory workers.
If there are particularly exceptional contributors for whom this is impossible, I will review and approve these exceptions directly.
In addition, the “office” should be a Tesla head office, not a remote branch not related to work tasks, for example, being responsible for human relations at the Fremont factory, but having your office in a another state.
Thanks, Elon
Second email:
Subject: to be super clear
Everyone at Tesla must spend at least 40 hours a week in the office. Also, the office should be where your real colleagues are, not a remote pseudo-office. If you do not show up, we will assume that you have resigned.
The bigger you are, the more visible your presence should be. That’s why I lived so long in the factory, so that those on the line could see me working alongside them. If it hadn’t, Tesla would have gone bankrupt a long time ago.
Sure, there are companies that don’t require it, but when was the last time they shipped a great new product? It’s been a while.
Tesla has created and will manufacture the most exciting and meaningful products of any company on Earth. This will not happen by calling.
Thanks, Elon
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