Ex-Tesla Workers Describe Elon Musk's 'Production Hell': Raw Sewage Leak To Factory Floor Sleep

Tesla workers revealed challenges faced during “production hell” in a recent podcast episode, Business Insider reports.

Elon Musk‘s “hardcore” production periods at Tesla Inc. TSLA were characterized by long hours and intense pressure, as shared by former employees on “Land of the Giants,” a podcast by The Verge.

Carlos Gabriel, who worked at Tesla in 2020, described seeing colleagues sleeping on the factory floor after grueling 12-hour shifts. Another ex-employee, Denis Duran, recalled witnessing a colleague throw up and faint from dehydration and a raw sewage leak that workers were allegedly told to continue working through. Duran described the company’s response as creating a pathway over the sewage for workers. He had previously labeled Tesla as a “modern day sweatshop.”

Another former worker, Melvin Berry, highlighted the intense pressure during the Model 3 production ramp-up, mentioning instances of on-the-spot firings. Berry was awarded $1 million in a racial discrimination lawsuit against Tesla in 2021.

Image via Shutterstock

Read Next: What Is Tesla’s Work Culture Like? Elon Musk Confirms There’s No ‘Workers Vs Management’ Class System