Tesla-CEO Elon Musk plans to personally investigate the unusually high sickness rate at the Grünheide plant. This decision follows criticism of the controversial "home visits" to sick employees, which have caused displeasure among trade unions and employees.
Introduction
The Tesla-plant in Grünheide near Berlin has been at the center of controversy ever since it opened. This time, the focus is on the high sickness rate among the 12,000 employees, which Tesla-boss Elon Musk to assess the situation himself. This comes after a controversial action by Teslain which unannounced visits were made to sick employees. Reactions to this ranged from harsh criticism from the union to explanations from the company.
The high sickness rate in the Tesla-plant
Since the summer of 2024, an unusually high proportion of employees at the Tesla-plant in Grünheide have been off sick. According to the plant management, at times up to 15% of the workforce were on sick leave at the same time. This high sickness rate apparently raised doubts among management as to whether the reported illnesses were actually all justified, especially as the high rate was considered conspicuous even during the Covid and summer flu waves.
The controversial home visits
Tesla responded to the high sickness rates with a controversial measure: unannounced home visits to employees reported as sick. These visits were criticized by the trade union IG Metall union, which described them as an "absurd action". Those affected felt they were under general suspicion.
The reaction of Tesla
Tesla defended the visits by arguing that the aim was to protect the dialog with the employees and to better understand their situation. Personal visits are, according to Tesla more effective than a telephone call in many cases. Nevertheless, the measure remains controversial and has increased tensions between the workforce and company management.
Trade union criticism and workload
The union sees the high sickness rate as a result of the high workload in the factory. Since the plant was commissioned, there have been repeated reports about the high pressure on employees to meet strict production targets. The IG Metall is calling for better working conditions and more dialog between management and employees.
What does the investigation by Elon Musk mean?
Elon Musk now apparently wants to take the situation into his own hands. However, the question remains as to whether he intends to working conditions at the plant or whether the investigation is aimed at critically scrutinizing the sickness reports. In view of Musk's previous attitude towards labor rightsespecially in the European context, it remains to be seen how he will address the situation.
Conclusion
The situation in the Tesla-plant in Grünheide continues to escalate, as both the company and the union have different views on the causes of the high sickness rate. With Elon Musk now wanting to address the matter personally, it remains to be seen whether this will lead to an improvement in the situation or further increase tensions.
Keywords: Tesla, Elon Musk, Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, Tesla accessories, Tesla Store, Shop4Tesla, Tesla News, sick leave, Tesla Grünheide plant, trade union, IG Metall, working conditions, home visits
—
Did you like our article? If you are already a proud Tesla-driver or would like to become one soon, visit our online store Shop4Tesla and get a 5% discount on all products with the discount code: NEWS4TESLA.
In our extensive range you will find a variety of high-quality Tesla-accessories for every model. Discover exciting innovations and accessories that will make your Tesla-experience even better - www.shop4tesla.com.
