No Slang
Everyone knows it is not appropriate to use slang and/or acronyms in certain situations, but during the everyday work life, people just can't help it. However, Tesla employees are not allowed to do it at all.
In fact, Musk sent out a memo titled "Acronyms Seriously Suck" to the entire company stating that acronyms should not be used because they are confusing and difficult to remember. They can only be used if he approves them first.
No Discounts
One of the best parts of working somewhere is that employees get a good discount on whatever products the company sells. Unfortunately for Tesla employees, there's no such thing for them.
It is not clear why Musk insists that there be no discounts for employees, but that's the way it goes. Maybe because he wants everyone to pay a fair price for his precious Teslas and does not want to give them up for less money than they deserve?
No Perfume
Humans don't smell very nice naturally, so most people opt for perfume or cologne in order to smell good for others, especially in the office, where people spend hours right next to each other.
However, things run differently in Tesla. Musk has a very sensitive nose and therefore advises employees not to wear any perfume or cologne to work. Ironic for a man named Musk...
No Safety Markings
Safety markings are extremely important in a factory in order to keep everyone safe. That's why these markings are usually done in bright colors such as yellow, orange, and red.
Elon Musk allegedly does not like these bright colors, so he had made all safety markings in gray. This color blends with the floor and makes it hard to see, so employees have to really pay attention to what they are doing.
No Stopping Production
The goal of a company is obviously to make money, and to make money, the company has to produce goods and sell them. Therefore, if production stops, the money stops, and companies don't like that.
Unfortunately, sometimes halting production is necessary for safety reasons and to make everything work better but in Tesla, production is almost never halted, not even if there's a safety concern. Employees must find a way to fix the problem without stopping production.
No Talking
You can imagine that Elon Musk is a very busy man. He has lots of responsibilities and things to do, so people just can't come into his office for a friendly chat. Therefore, he is the one who decides when people talk to him.
To be more specific, Musk is the only one who initiates and ends conversations. Once he feels like the conversation is over, it is really over, and the other person should keep their mouth shut.
Low Maintenance
In a big car company like Tesla there are many safety regulations to be followed and maintenance schedules need to be put in place in order for everything to work property and ensure the safety of everyone involved in production.
However, according to employees, maintenance schedules are often ignored if they require that the production line be shut down. Preventative maintenance takes too much time for the company, so they prefer not to do it.
The Show Must Go On
OK, we know we've mentioned this already, but we really need to illustrate the extent to which Musk takes the phrase The show must go on. For Tesla, production never sleeps, not even for five minutes.
For example, one time there was a sewage leak all over the floors of the California factory of the company. You can imagine how nasty a sewage leak can be, but not for Musk. Employees had to work despite the leak, walking and working through the spillage all over the place until the issue was resolved.
Weekends? No Way
There's no other feeling like leaving work on Friday and going home, ready to enjoy the weekend. You think of all the things you are going to do: see your friends, hang out with family, maybe drive somewhere... unless you are a Tesla employee.
Musk's employees do not get weekends off, not even Musk himself. The self-proclaimed workaholic works 120 hours per week and expects his employees to do the same, no matter their rank in the company.
No Sick Leave
Sick leave is the right of employees not to go to work when they don't feel good or something happens to a family member. Normally, it is not an issue for an employee to just take a sick day, but not at Tesla.
In fact, the company came under fire in 2015 when it was leaked that an employee was scolded for missing a meeting to attend the birth of his child. Other employees have alleged that, after they took sick leave, they were told never to come back.
No Sleeping
Tesla is a company driven by ambition. The fact that the company imposed a crazy scheduled on itself to finish production for the Tesla Model 3 did not surprise anyone, but it probably made thousands of employees very, very unhappy.
That is because everyone had to overwork themselves in order to be on schedule. Red Bull energy drinks were distributed around the company to help everyone stay awake, and no sleeping was allowed.
No Questions Asked
Remember that we said that Musk did not like to talk to employees unless it was totally necessary and he was the one to initiate the conversation? Well, there's more to it.
Musk is especially annoyed by questions, concerns, and objections. Employees are often advised not to ask any questions directly to him and are encouraged to find a solution to problems instead. It is said that Musk gets very angry when he's questioned.
Big Meetings Aren't Allowed
This is a rule that pretty much everyone can get on board with. Don't you hate it when you have to sit at a meeting for 40 minutes when everything that it's said could have been summarized in an email?
Elon Musk feels the same way. Meetings have to be as short as possible and only include people who are actively contributing to them. Those who have nothing to say are encouraged to leave the meeting.
No Unions
After everything we've said, this one doesn't come as a surprise, does it? Companies not allowing unions is something very common because they don't want to lose any money or give too much to their employees.
Musk has publicly stated that his position is neutral when it comes to unions, but employees say otherwise. People have allegedly been fired for trying to unionize, so there's not much they can do if they have a problem at the workplace.
No Raises
No weekends off, no sick leave, no unions, and now, no raises. Tesla doesn't sound like a great place to work at, does it? Factory workers have allegedly stated that if they dare ask for a raise, they get fired.
This is particularly problematic for them because they allegedly get paid less than the average automotive production worker in the United States, so they are forced to work overtime to make ends meet. But as you know, Musk loves overtime.
Injuries? Not Here
You can imagine that, after being overworked, not getting enough sleep, and living off of Red Bull, employees make mistakes. Making a mistake at a car factory, however, can cost you your life.
Employee injuries are quite alarming at Tesla, especially considering that they occur because employees are exhausted and safety regulations are not followed. The company has come under fire recently for hiding the actual number of injuries, but they have promised to do something about it.
Tesla Mentality
Musk did not build his empire out of thin air. According to him, what has driven him to become so successful and powerful is that he does not waste time and has a very simple thought process.
In a TED Talk, he said: “things should be boiled down to the most fundamental truth, and then reasoned up from there.” This is the thought process that alll employees are encouraged to follow.
Only Polite People Allowed
After reading all of this, you might not think Elon Musk is the nicest guy around. However, he always tries to keep things polite and friendly, no matter the situation. For him, being likable is important, and all employees should act the same way.
According to his policy, only polite people with a positive attitude should be hired. Not only that, but people have been fired for being rude to their co-workers. If you don't have a smile on your face, you're out!
No Chain Of Command
One thing that is sure to drive people crazy is bureaucracy. There's many things that could be done in a simple, efficient way, but are overcomplicated by a series of bureaucratic steps that one must follow.
But not on Musk's watch. Employees at Tesla are encouraged to just talk to whoever they have to talk to in order to get the job done and not waste time. Therefore, there's no chain of command. If you need to do something, you just do it, period.
No Rules
This one is very contradictory, but we can't question how Elon Musk's brilliant mind works. Basically, if a rule prevents a worker from getting the job done, they should disregard it.
The ultimate goal of the company is to produce, and if something's in the way, it should be ignored. That is, unless the orders or the rules are coming straight from Elon Musk's mouth.