William Simpson
Tesla is known as a demanding workplace, with its Glassdoor assessments noting that employees typically work long hours and dedicate time on weekends. But one recent post on LinkedIn of a Tesla worker who lost his job earlier this month is sparking a debate about whether workers should make such sacrifices for their employers.
In the post, former Tesla employee Nico Murillo writes about his dedication to the electric vehicle maker, noting that at one point in 2023 he slept in his car during the week to break up his 1.5-hour commute to the factory from Fremont, California. “I took a shower at the factory and slept in the parking lot. I had microwaved dinner in the break room,” he wrote.
Then, Murillo wrote, he logged into his computer on April 15 at 4:30 a.m. and discovered his account had been deactivated. He soon noticed an email that said: “Unfortunately, as a result, his position has been eliminated by this restructuring.” Still, Murillo drove to his office and tried to register.
“[T]The security guard took my badge and told me I was fired,” Murillo wrote. “I sat in my car in disbelief.”
Describing his roughly five years at Tesla, where his most recent role was as a production supervisor, he added: “He sacrificed a lot for the company.”
Tesla, which had more than 140,000 workers in December, is in the process of cutting 10% of its employees as it faces falling demand for its electric vehicles. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a memo to employees that the layoffs are necessary to “allow us to be lean, innovative and hungry for the next cycle of the growth phase.”
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on the post.
However, Murillo’s description of his dedication to Tesla and his abrupt dismissal provoked a wave of comments on LinkedIn, with more than 1,600 responses. A common refrain came from people who described having had similar experiences, leading them to question whether an employer is worth devoting so much time and energy to.
“After 17 years at a company and 1 year away from retirement, the Utah headquarters called me to say that my position was being eliminated and that I should vacate the building immediately,” a LinkedIn member responded to Murillo. “I also gave everything for my work, but I earned too much. Companies don’t care about people.”
Another commenter added: “[D]Don’t sacrifice your health, time and well-being for any organization because, as you see, they will let you go without any remorse.”
“Let me sleep in my car”
Murillo, who spoke to CBS MoneyWatch by phone, said he has no regrets about his time at Tesla. He noted that he started working at the company in an entry-level position for $19 an hour and ended up in a higher-level salaried role where he earned about $120,000 a year.
“Tesla was a great opportunity and I have nothing bad to say about Tesla,” he said. “It gave me the opportunity to develop my skills, my leadership, and after that I had a bigger mindset.”
Murillo also noted that his approach when he started at Tesla was to work hard and try to get noticed by superiors, which he said paid off with promotions. He recalled that he decided to sleep in his car after working 12 or 13 hour days because he realized his long commute left him with only a few hours at home.
“I was like, ‘Let me sleep in my car, then it’s easier — I wake up and go to work,'” he said.
Now, Murillo said his next career move also involves his car, a Tesla Model Y. He plans to live in his car for five years, which he said is possible due to California’s climate, to reduce his housing costs. This will allow him to invest at least 60% of his income in stock market investments, he said. His ultimate plan is to retire around age 35, as part of the so-called financial independence, early retirement, or FIRE, movement.
“I have a goal, I have a plan and it will be a fun journey,” Murillo said. “Work hard now so you don’t have to work hard later.”
Meanwhile, Tesla is laying off even more employees, according to reports Monday in Electrek It is The information. Musk wrote in a memo on Monday that the company is firing two senior executives, senior supercharger director Rebecca Tinucci and head of new products Daniel Ho, according to The Information.
Tesla is also laying off nearly its entire 500-person charging team, Electrek reported.
Earlier this month, Tesla reported its profit in the first quarter plummeted 55%, a victim of the drop in global sales and the automaker itself price reductions. Revenue fell 9% to $21.3 billion.
Consumer demand for EVs has slowed due to concerns about their costs and usage issues, such as batteries that lose effectiveness in cold weather. And rival automakers are launching their own electric vehicles, causing Tesla’s market share to shrink.
It’s true that companies often need to cut costs or restructure when they go through difficult times. But the experience of workers who lose their jobs can be painful, especially for those who worked long hours and sacrificed their personal lives, as Murillo expressed.
Still, he added that he sees his five years at Tesla as just part of its story. “I’m only 29 years old and have a lot more career time available,” he wrote.
