According to a report by Handelsblatt, the recent rise in illness rates at Tesla's Berlin Gigafactory has been alarming, with over 17% of employees calling in sick, which is more than three times the average for the German auto industry. This has drawn significant attention and concern, especially as it coincides with reports of management visiting employees at home. Such actions have provoked frustration among workers, with some feeling pressured by management amid rising workloads.
Dirk Schulze, a regional chief at IG Metall, criticized the situation by calling the home visits 'absurd' and highlighted that workers report 'extremely high workloads.' He stated, 'When management pressures workers who are sick, it places an unbearable burden on their healthy colleagues, who then experience an overload of work as well. This not only affects morale but can lead to further absenteeism if not addressed properly.'
Elon Musk responded to concerns by saying, 'This sounds crazy. Looking into it.' His remarks came after the alarming statistics about sick leave at the Berlin factory surfaced. Musk has a history of advocating for high productivity, warning in January that employees should prepare for a more demanding work environment as the company focused on ramping up production for a new mass-market EV.
A former employee shared that at the Tesla factory in Fremont, California, conditions were so extreme that workers would sometimes sleep on the floor after exhausting 12-hour shifts. This raises questions about labor practices at Tesla and the potential pressure on employees, particularly given the reported high illness rates and Musk's demands for intense work schedules.
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