Tesla Employees Share Harrowing Tales Of Working For Elon Musk: 'Elon's Coming Out Of A Room, Looking Dead At You, And Firing You'

As Elon Musk enjoys international prominence at the helm of electric-car titan Tesla Inc. TSLA, the narrative from some of his staff members offers a contrasting perspective of the company's inner workings.

Recent revelations from Tesla's workers shared in an Aug. 16 episode of The Verge's podcast "Land of the Giants: The Tesla Shock Wave" depict a rigorous and occasionally severe professional environment. 

One unidentified staff member remarked, "What I saw was, you know, a lot of people sleeping on the floor, people working 10-12 hours a day, six to seven days a week."

Another individual highlighted Musk's unpredictable nature, sharing, "Let's say you drop something. Let's say you do something wrong. You're getting fired on the spot 'cause Elon's coming out of a room, looking dead at you, and firing you."

Musk previously acknowledged the intense work environment at Tesla, referencing an "excruciating effort — 100-hour weeks, by everyone." 

Also Read: Sacrificing Sleep For Productivity Gave 'Brain Pain,' Says Elon Musk

Yet, several employee accounts touched on disturbing issues beyond the extended work hours.

Melvin Barry, a Tesla associate from 2015 to 2016, shared a troubling experience. 

"My supervisor called me the N-word," he disclosed. "Right in front of other co-workers."

Despite seeking redressal from HR, Barry felt his concerns went unheeded.

Women who allegedly faced both racial and sexual harassment also revealed instances of seeking assistance from HR without receiving adequate support. Among them, one individual recounted a distressing incident in which she was subjected to racial slurs while enduring a hostile environment and had an object hurled at her.

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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