Business
ELON MUSK APOLOGIZES TO DISABLE EMPLOYEE
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, recently issued a public apology to a disabled Twitter employee, Haraldur Thorleifsson, following a heated exchange on social media regarding the employee’s work status. Let’s see
ELON MUSK APOLOGIZES TO DISABLE EMPLOYEE
Background:
Haraldur Thorleifsson, also known as “Halli,” had expressed concerns on Twitter about being locked out of his work computer and receiving no response from Twitter’s human resources regarding his employment status. It caused a public interaction between Thorleifsson and Musk.
Musk’s Initial Criticism:
In response to Thorleifsson’s inquiry about his job status, Musk questioned the employee’s work performance, stating that he had not worked for the past four months. Musk, a prolific Twitter user, initiated a public discourse that garnered attention.
Twitter Employee’s Response:
Thorleifsson defended his work, citing specific instances where he claimed to have saved the company money on a software-as-a-service contract and led the prioritization of design projects. The conversation escalated with Musk sharing a clip from the movie “Office Space,” mocking the employee’s contributions.
Musk’s Apology:
ELON MUSK APOLOGIZES TO DISABLE EMPLOYEE
After a Twitter user expressed disapproval and vouched for Thorleifsson’s work ethic, Musk initiated a video call with the employee. Following the call, Musk apologized, admitting a “misunderstanding” and suggesting that Thorleifsson was contemplating staying at Twitter.
Public Reaction and Industry Perspective:
The incident prompted varied reactions, some criticizing Musk for his initial comments and others highlighting the need for effective internal communication, particularly in remote work and increasing tech layoffs.
Matt Monette, U.K. and Ireland country lead at human resources platform Deel, emphasized the importance of clear communication and adherence to employment rules. And expressing concern that an employee had to resort to Twitter to inquire about job status.
Twitter’s Strategic Changes:
The incident is part of a broader context involving Musk’s acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion. As Musk seeks to make Twitter profitable. And the company underwent significant layoffs, reducing its workforce from around 7,500 to 2,000 employees.
Thorleifsson’s Background:
Thorleifsson, an Icelandic entrepreneur with muscular dystrophy, was appointed as Twitter’s senior director of product design after his company, Ueno, was acquired by Twitter in 2021. Despite his disability, he earned recognition in Iceland. And being crowned “Person of the year” for efforts such as installing wheelchair ramps nationwide.
Future Uncertainty for Thorleifsson:
Thorleifsson’s employment status remains uncertain, and he expressed uncertainty about receiving severance pay. Despite this, he mentioned plans to open a restaurant named after his mother in Reykjavik.
