Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has ordered employees to return to the office full-time, stating that working remotely is no longer an option.
Emails containing the new policy were released on social media.
When challenged about the regulation, Mr Musk stated on Twitter that anybody who don’t want to follow the new guidelines should “claim to work someplace else.”
In one of the emails, he said, “Everyone at Tesla is obligated to spend a minimum of 40 hours in the office each week.” “We’ll think you’ve quit if you don’t show up.”
Staff should report to one of the company’s main offices, “not a remote branch office unrelated to the job tasks,” according to the emails.
Mr Musk further stated that any requests for exceptions to the policy will be reviewed by him personally.
Mr Musk stated that the company requires its manufacturing staff to work full-time in the office and that in-person communication is vital to the company’s performance.
“Of course, some businesses do not demand this, but when was the last time they delivered a fantastic new product? It’s been a long time, “He mentioned this in one of two emails that were hacked and circulated on social media.
“Tesla has created and will continue to build the most fascinating and important goods of any company on the planet. This isn’t going to happen if you call it in.”
Many sectors are debating whether or not to continue with the remote work techniques that blossomed during the coronavirus outbreak.
Some industries, such as banking, have stated that employees would be expected to return to the office, while others, such as the computer industry, have stated that remote work will be permitted indefinitely. Many places have chosen a hybrid approach.
According to Kastle, which manages security card access systems in hundreds of buildings throughout the country, office occupancy in the United States is around 43%.
Mr Musk is well-known for his feisty approach to work. He seldom takes vacations, and he once slept on the production floor during a Tesla crunch a few years ago.
In one of the emails on the remote work rules, he said, “The more senior you are, the more evident your presence must be.”
“That’s why I spent so much time at the plant, so people on the line could see me working alongside them. Tesla would have gone bankrupt long ago if I hadn’t done it.”
Mr Musk has previously expressed reservations about remote work, saying on Twitter earlier this year that “People have been duped into thinking that you don’t need to work hard because of all the Covid stay-at-home things. A rude awakening is on the way!”
His remarks highlighted the possibility of a new cultural confrontation with the workforce at Twitter, which he is in the midst of purchasing for $44 billion (£35.3 billion).
Parag Agrawal, the company’s CEO, claimed in March that employees might work from home “forever.”
Mr Agrawal said in a message to colleagues put on the social media platform: “Our attitude remains the same as we reopen. You will work wherever you feel most productive and creative, which may include working from home full-time indefinitely.”
“Every day in the office? That also works. Some days in the workplace, others at home? Yes, of course.”