Ex-Employee of Musk’s X Suing for Right to Re-Enter Workplace
(Reuters) – Elon Musk’s X illegally fired an employee in retaliation for his Internet posts questioning its return-to-work policy, the U.S. Labor Department alleged on Friday.
In the complaint, the regional director of the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) accused X, formerly known as Twitter, of violating a federal law that prohibits punishing employees for communicating and organizing with others about their working conditions.
X did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
The NLRB said the dispute began on Nov. 10, 2022, when Musk ordered workers back into the office last November, saying “if you physically get to the office and don’t show up, the resignation will be accepted.”
Employee Yao Yue responded with a message on Twitter telling co-workers: “Don’t quit, let him fire you.” A few days later, he was fired, according to the complaint, in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.
Musk completed his $44 billion purchase of Twitter last October and began his ownership spree with layoffs, including from top management, laying off more than half of its workforce as a cost-cutting measure.
The company has been the subject of a series of lawsuits stemming from the layoffs, including allegations that it targeted women and workers with disabilities and failed to pay promised severance pay to laid-off workers.
The company has denied being guilty of wrongdoing in matters where it has filed responses.
