Tesla sued by ex-employees who claim mass layoffs violated federal laws

[midian182]

What just happened? Tesla is facing a lawsuit filed by two former employees over claims its decision to lay off around 10% of its workforce violated federal law as the company did not provide those affected with advanced notice of the cuts.

Reuters writes that the employees from its Sparks, Nevada, Gigafactory filed the suit in Texas on Sunday. It states that 500 employees were terminated from the factory without giving a 60-day notice period—a violation of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.

John Lynch and Daxton Hartsfield, who had worked at the plant for around five years, were among the those let go from the factory this month, according to the suit. They say neither were given advanced notice of their terminations, on June 10 and June 15, respectively, and are now seeking class-action status on behalf of any US Tesla employees laid off in May or June who also received no advanced notice.

The WARN Act requires companies to provide a 60-day notice period to workers before any layoffs affecting 50 more employees, giving them enough time to find other employment or retrain.

"Tesla started laying people off in blatant disregard for the WARN act," Boston-based employment attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan, who is representing the workers, told Bloomberg.

Earlier this month, Tesla boss Elon Musk told executives he wanted to cut 10% of jobs at the company and pause all hiring over his "super bad feeling" about the economy. He clarified to CNBC that the figure represents salaried workers only, while the number of hourly employees will increase. However, this still means around 3.5% of Tesla's total workforce is being laid off, an amount he said is "not super material."

"A year from now, I think our headcount will be higher in both salaried and obviously in hourly," Musk added.

The world's richest person also addressed the lawsuit, saying it had "no standing" and was a "small lawsuit of minor consequence."

Elsewhere in the interview, Musk said he believed a recession was "inevitable at some point," and that it happening in the near term is "more likely than not" but "not a certainty."

Musk previously came under fire for demanding Tesla and SpaceX workers spend a minimum of 40 hours in the office per week or quit. He also said that staff must work in a main company office, not a remote location.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/95017-tesla-sued-ex-employees-who-claim-mass-layoffs.html

 

[Uncle Al]

Not sure about the stipulations of the WARN act these days but back 15 years ago it was still fully enforced and more than a few corporations got bit by it. I doubt "super bad feeling" will be considered a reasonable explaination for such a violation.

 

[Last1Standing]

DOA!

 

[waclark]

Not sure about the stipulations of the WARN act these days but back 15 years ago it was still fully enforced and more than a few corporations got bit by it. I doubt "super bad feeling" will be considered a reasonable explaination for such a violation.

From the WARN Act:

(2) the term "plant closing" means the permanent or temporary shutdown of a single site of employment, or one or more facilities or operating units within a single site of employment, if the shutdown results in an employment loss at the single site of employment during any 30-day period for 50 or more employees excluding any part-time employees;
(3) the term "mass layoff" means a reduction in force which—
(A) is not the result of a plant closing; and
(B) results in an employment loss at the single site of employment during any 30-day period for—
(I)(I) at least 33 percent of the employees (excluding any part-time employees); and
(II) at least 50 employees (excluding any part-time employees); or
(ii) at least 500 employees (excluding any part-time employees);

If you look at section B (I), they may skate by because it appears they are under the 33% number. It's a little confusing because the following sections say, at least 50 employees and then at east 500 employees. So that part is a bit unclear, but the 33 percent seems like a requirement given the "AND" clause at the end of that section.

 

[netman]

"Tesla sued by ex-employees who claim mass layoffs violated federal laws"

Good, I hope they win Big...!

 

[Bl00dyMinded]

Move to Florida! Where you can get fired overnight "Just Cause". Another benefit we have

 

[hahahanoobs]

Musk could use a good smackdown. He's so shady.

 

[PanfiloTexas]

"Tesla sued by ex-employees who claim mass layoffs violated federal laws"

Good, I hope they win Big...!

why, it just hurts the people that are currently still employed.

 

[PanfiloTexas]

Musk could use a good smackdown. He's so shady.

....because he doesn't pull the liberal rope anymore?

 

[hahahanoobs]

....because he doesn't pull the liberal rope anymore?

Fail. Try again.

 

[The Saltsmith]

"small lawsuit of minor consequence." Rich people speak for the penalty is less than the money saved by canning everyone.

 

[captaincranky]

All Musk has to do, is put on one of his designer spacesuits, click his heels together three times and say, I wish I was in China, I wish I was in China, I wish I was back in China....

 

[captaincranky]

Musk previously came under fire for demanding Tesla and SpaceX workers spend a minimum of 40 hours in the office per week or quit. He also said that staff must work in a main company office, not a remote location.

Maybe this is why Musk wanted his people back in the office for 40 hours, and didn't have enough desks for them.

It seems like it was that dipsh!ts take on musical chairs. "The last person(s) standing when Musk finally stops talking, gets laid off....."

 

[captaincranky]

....because he doesn't pull the liberal rope anymore?

Have you ever heard the name, "Cassidy Hutchins"?