Think Your Job Is Bad? At Least You Don’t Work for Twitter

Summary

Twitter employees face mass layoffs and a drastic shift in work culture following Elon Musk's takeover, with many bracing for job loss and a transition to a more demanding work environment.

Abstract

Amidst rumors of significant staff reductions, Twitter employees were informed via email that they would learn of their job status by noon ET on Friday, with speculations suggesting that up to half of the workforce could be laid off. This move by Elon Musk, who recently acquired Twitter, not only contrasts sharply with the previous leadership's emphasis on self-care and work-life balance but may also violate federal and state labor laws, prompting a class-action lawsuit. Employees have taken to social media to express their distress, with some reporting mandatory 84-hour workweeks and managers sleeping in offices to meet deadlines. The future for those retaining their positions appears to involve a grueling work pace, reminiscent of Musk's management style at Tesla.

Opinions

The author suggests that the manner in which Twitter employees are being informed about layoffs is impersonal and unceremonious compared to other layoff experiences.
There is an implied criticism of Musk's leadership style, contrasting it unfavorably with that of former CEO Jack Dorsey, who prioritized employee well-being.
The article conveys a sense of empathy for the employees, highlighting personal stories and the emotional impact of the layoffs.
The author seems to question the legality and ethicality of Musk's actions regarding the layoffs, given the potential violation of labor laws and the lack of clarity on compensation for increased work hours.
The overall tone suggests that the work culture under Musk is likely to be more intense and less forgiving, with potential negative consequences for employee morale and mental health.

Elon Musk is changing Twitter’s work culture overnight

I was once laid off from a job as I huddled around a conference call from London in a Chicago office with my coworkers. It seemed like a bad way to go at the time. In retrospect, we were absolutely spoiled getting to hear the bad news (if not in the same room, at least from a live voice) rather than from an email.

Twitter employees are not so lucky. Amid rumors of mass layoffs, on Thursday, November 3rd, employees received an email telling them they should know by noon ET on Friday if they’d get to keep their jobs or not.

Chances are, many of them won’t keep their jobs. CNN reports out of the 7,500 workers, it’s rumored 25% to 50% of staff will get cut.

CNN got ahold of the company-wide email that said,

“If your employment is not impacted, you will receive a notification via your Twitter email. If your employment is impacted, you will receive a notification with next steps via your personal email.”

Musk’s layoffs may be in direct violation of federal and California law. The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act prohibits large companies from mass layoffs without a 60-day advance notice. In fact, a class action lawsuit has been filed against Twitter. in San Fransisco federal court.

Employees are taking to Twitter to share their experiences and it’s all heartbreaking. One woman shared a picture of herself in the San Francisco offices last week smiling and holding her 9-month-old son. She tweeted on Thursday,

“Last Thursday in the SF office, really the last day Twitter was Twitter. 8 months pregnant and have a 9 month old. Just got cut off from laptop access.”

Those left behind may still have jobs, but they may not be the ones that are better off. Musk’s leadership is notoriously different from the previous CEO, Jack Dorsey. Dorsey believes in self-care and work-life balance and has imparted this philosophy into the work culture of Twitter.

Dorsey implemented a “day of rest” during the pandemic where one day each month, the entire company would take the day off. There will be no days of rest under Musk, who is notorious for driving employees hard.

This quote comes from Business Insider from a production technician at Tesla,

“I’ve seen people pass out, hit the floor like a pancake and smash their face open. They just send us to work around him while he’s still laying on the floor.”

Some Twitter staff has been ordered to work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week (84 hours.)

Managers are reporting they slept overnight in Twitter offices to meet deadlines.

Employees are scrambling to prove their worth and avoid layoffs by working crazy hours.

There’s been no communication if the extra work will result in overtime pay, extra time off in the future, or job security.

On Friday, Twitter offices are closed temporarily and workers are cut off from internal services while employees wait to hear by email if they still have a job.

Chaos reigns at Twitter today. Twitter employees are sitting on pins and needles to find out if they are either jobless or instead get to look forward to passing out “like pancakes” to keep up with Musk’s demanding expectations.

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