On Monday, Tesla Inc. initiated a global layoff affecting approximately 14,000 employees. The company's aim was to eliminate redundant positions and reduce costs in preparation for "the next phase of growth." According to Tesla employees who posted on Leaderboard and X, the layoffs spanned across sales, recruiting, and engineering departments. Here are five personal narratives from individuals who were let go or their family members.
- Nico Murillo, Production Supervisor (4 years, 10 months at Tesla)**
Tesla Layoff Stories, Monday, 4/15.
4:30 AM: Opened my laptop to find my account had lapsed. Assuming it was another IT issue, I didn't give it much thought.
5:00 AM: During my autopilot commute to work (a 1 hour 30-minute drive), I checked my email, which read, "Unfortunately, your position has been eliminated due to organizational restructuring."
5:05 AM: I texted my manager, but he replied, "Everyone got it, we'll get more info later."
5:50 AM: Upon attempting to enter the premises with my badge, security took it away and informed me I was fired.
6:00 AM: Sitting in my car, still in disbelief.
Tesla Timeline: 07/22/2019 - 04/15/2024. Worked at Tesla for about 5 years.
At one point in 2023, I made the sacrifice of sleeping in my car on weekdays to avoid the commute. I showered at the factory, slept in the parking lot, and microwaved dinner in the break room.
I sacrificed a lot for the company. But that's just a small part of a chapter that's coming to a close; there's a whole book waiting for me to write. I'm only 29 years old, and there's more to come in my career.
Starting as a Production Assistant, I worked my way up to Lead Production Assistant and then Production Supervisor. I've learned to adapt to an ever-changing environment and how to do more with less.
During my time as a supervisor, I met the funniest and most humble supervisor, Louie Afusia. Louie taught me to delegate, follow up, and get the job done. He often said, "Listen to people, not against them." I even played semi-pro football with him one spring. He taught me a lot about leadership, and I'm glad I met him during my time at Tesla. He was a big Samoan brother with a good heart.
Louis passed away in February 2023. He is gone but not forgotten.
The way to be immortalized is to inspire the next generation and then the next. Always leave a place better than you found it.
Iron Man Tony Stark said in the movie Avengers: Endgame, "Part of the journey is the end."
- Charlotte Byers, Senior EHS Specialist (3 years, 6 months)**
Since becoming a mom, I've spent many nights contemplating my options for returning to work, weighing the decision to drop my new baby at daycare and then return to full-time work or leave my job to be a full-time mom.
However, yesterday, I was fired from Tesla, along with over 14,000 other employees, which has helped me make my choice. It came as a shock, especially since I still have a month of maternity leave remaining.
Although the situation was unexpected, I found a silver lining: now I can focus all of my time, love, and attention on raising my child on my own terms. I am fortunate to have the resources to take some extra time off without the immediate stress of finding a job. For that, I am grateful.
Unfortunately, most Americans are not so lucky. Women, especially mothers, still face unfair treatment at work. In the United States, a few simple changes would go a long way:
- Enact a federal law mandating at least six months of maternity leave.
- Prohibit the firing of mothers who are on maternity leave.
- Allow mothers returning to work the option of working part-time with full health benefits until they are ready to return to full-time employment.
Judging by the size of the layoffs, and statistically speaking, I can't be the only new mom affected. To the Tesla moms, I feel your pain.
To my coworkers who may not be moms but were also laid off—many of whom have worked for years to realize Tesla's vision, often doing double the work at below-market rates—I share your frustration.
Let's toast to an America that rewards hard work and commitment with real job security.
- Gary Cooper, Father of a Tesla Intern
As a Tesla owner and the proud father of a Tesla intern, this is disheartening news.
Yesterday's news of Tesla layoffs resulted in my son's job offer to join Tesla's Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure team in Palo Alto next month being instantly nullified.
As an intern at Tesla, Daniel designed and wrote several key production applications, making incredible innovations at an astonishing rate that led to significant operational cost savings.
Daniel will be an invaluable asset to any company seeking the sharpest AI/machine learning/robotics talent. I am grateful in advance for any connections that can help Daniel contribute to the success of other Bay Area companies.
- John Malcovitch, Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Manufacturing and Assembly Design (MFG) Team Lead (8 years, 11 months)
After nearly 9 years at Tesla, this week I learned that I was among the 10%+ that were laid off. Due to the time zone difference, I've had some time to digest and reflect, and most importantly, I'm grateful to have been able to learn and grow with Andrew Ross and our MFG colleagues, as well as those from other engineering and operations teams around the world.
Together, we've accomplished some incredible feats since 2015: building our first Superfactory, launching the Energy production line (even before constructing all four walls); initiating the Model 3 battery production line, and then re-launching the Extreme Makeover production line; breaking impossible timelines for delivering new capacity lines; designing and installing our Shanghai Superfactory production line and remotely supporting production ramp-up during the historic challenge of the COVID-19 Pandemic; and completing the development of full-cycle MFG-designed high-voltage batteries through Semi cells, P2 battery packs, Model Y structural battery packs, Cybertruck high-voltage batteries, and the next-generation low-cost platform.
I was honored to work in the factory and lab to "learn about the thousands of ways not to make batteries correctly and then develop guidelines for 'not doing it'." I am proud of our achievements in accelerating product rollout and MFG launch while maintaining exemplary powertrain product quality standards.
- Mark Anthony, Customer Service Team
It's challenging to share this in front of so many people I know.
Elon Musk, while I was impacted by the 10% layoffs at Tesla, I understand the necessity of these decisions to ensure a prosperous and peaceful future for humanity. Your dedication to peace and security aligns with my values, and I support you and this incredible company you've created. Thank you for your commitment to a better tomorrow.
I'll be back.
