Musk’s X illegally fired worker over tweet protesting office return, US labour board alleges
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Mr Elon Musk ordered workers back to the offices of Twitter, now known as X, in November 2022.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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CALIFORNIA – Billionaire Elon Musk’s X illegally fired an employee in retaliation for her Internet posts challenging its return-to-office policy, the US labour board alleged in its first-ever formal complaint against the company, Bloomberg News reported on Friday.
In a filing on Friday, a regional director of the United States National Labour Relations Board accused the company – formerly known as Twitter – of violating the federal law that prohibits punishing employees for communicating and organising protests with others about their working conditions, the report said.
Bloomberg said the issue began when Mr Musk ordered workers back to the office in November 2022 and reportedly said that “if you can physically make it to an office and you don’t show up, resignation accepted”.
Employee Yao Yue had responded with a post on Twitter telling fellow workers “don’t resign, let him fire you”, a few days after which she was terminated, with her lawyer saying firing her was a violation of federal labour law, the report added.
Mr Musk had completed his US$44 billion (S$60.3 billion) acquisition of Twitter in October 2022 and began his ownership with brutal efficiency, firing top executives. REUTERS
