Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) Chief Executive Elon Musk has asked employees to return to work or leave the company, according to a memo circulated on social media.
“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,” the memo said.
Since the COVID-19 epidemic hit in 2020, Tesla, like every other corporation, has permitted remote work for any function where it is practicable.
As the epidemic fades, many firms are reconsidering their remote working practices. Many of them have come to the conclusion that workers are just as if not more productive when remote working and have decided to allow workers to continue to work remotely. Others have offered incentives to employees to return to the office.
Now it’s Tesla’s turn, and the company clearly falls into the latter category, though “incentives” may not be the right word in this case.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, wrote a series of letters yesterday requesting that staff return to the office or face termination.
The CEO also stated that there may be some exceptions, but he will review and approve them himself, which is a good way to discourage people from requesting exceptions.
Musk reminded employees in a follow-up email that he set the example by sleeping in the factory: “The more senior you are, the more visible your presence must be.” That is why I spent so much time at the company — so that people on the line could see me working alongside them. Tesla would have gone bankrupt long ago if I hadn’t done it.
Here is the series of emails that Elon has sent to his employees in Tesla.
First Email :
Subject: Remote work is no longer acceptble
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. This is less than we ask of factory workers.
If there are particularly exceptional contributors for whom this is impossible, I will review and approve those exceptions directly. Moreover, the “office” must be a main Tesla office, not a remote branch office unrelated to the job duties, for example being responsible for Fremont factory human relations, but having your office be in another state.
Thanks, Elon
Second Email
Subject: To be super clear
Everyone at Tesla is required to spend a minimum of 40 hours in the office per week. Moreover, the office must be where your actual colleagues are located, not some remote pseudo office. If you don’t show up, we will assume you have resigned.
The more senior you are, the more visible must be your presence. That is why I lived in the factory so much – so that those on the line could see me working alongside them. If I had not done that, Tesla would long ago have gone bankrupt.
There are of course companies that don’t require this, but when was the last time they shipped a great new product? It’s been a while.
Tesla has and will create and actually manufacture the most exciting and meaningful products of any company on Earth. This will not happen by phoning it in.
Thanks,
Elon