01/09/2024

Don't Fire Employees Because They Criticize You

Learn from the mistakes of Elon Musk

On Wednesday, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed suit against Elon Musk's company SpaceX, alleging that it illegally dismissed eight employees for calling Musk "a source of embarrassment" in a open letter to their colleagues. The day after the NLRB filed its suit, Musk returned fire with a lawsuit that questions the procedures and legitimacy of the NLRB itself.

Whatever the result of either suit, Musk--as he so often has lately--is providing a perfect lesson in how not to lead. He's allowed his ego and love of the limelight to supercede the welfare of his employees and his company, not to mention basic common sense. It's a lesson in the dark side of being a super-successful founder, and every entrepreneur and business leader should take note.

To properly understand this saga, you have to go all the way back to 2016 when Musk was traveling on a SpaceX corporate jet. According to reports, a contract flight attendant on the flight had been been encouraged by her superiors to become licensed as a massage therapist so she could give Musk massages while in flight. She did, and during one massage, she alleged in a subsequent complaint, he exposed his erect penis to her, rubbed her leg without permission and offered to buy her a horse if she would "do more." She refused--and soon found her hours cut back.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Inc.