SpaceX Cancel Culture, PayPal Mafia Feuds, and a Debate Over (Short) Shorts
Jul 9, 2024
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Josh Eidelson and Loren Grush discuss toxic workplace allegations at SpaceX, including sexual harassment and retaliation. The podcast also covers a feud between Elon Musk and Reid Hoffman, debates over short shorts, and lawsuits filed by former SpaceX employees seeking reinstatement and improved work conditions.
SpaceX faced lawsuits over workplace toxicity, sparking legal battles and calls for change in employee treatment.
Elon Musk's dismissive response to harassment complaints raises concerns about retaliation culture at SpaceX.
Deep dives
SpaceX Workplace Culture Lawsuits
Eight former SpaceX employees alleged instances of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. Men made crude jokes mimicking Elon Musk's behavior, and employees were fired for speaking up. The National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint, leading to legal battles. The employees seek reinstatement and changes to the work environment.
Cultural Challenges at SpaceX
SpaceX has a burnout culture where long hours and intense work mimic Elon Musk's values, making employees feel unheard and experiencing casual sexism. Incidents like jokes about Musk's tweets sparked discontent. A former employee's public essay and news articles on harassment contributed to the collective action against SpaceX.
Elon Musk's Response and Retaliation
In response to the workplace complaints, Elon Musk and SpaceX fired employees who spoke up, invoking a culture of retaliation. Musk dismissed the complaints, joked about the fired employees on Twitter, and asserted his dominance over company values. The harsh firings and dismissive attitude towards complaints raised concerns about the work environment.
Legal Battle and Implications
Legal actions include lawsuits against SpaceX for workplace violations and retaliation. The National Labor Relations Board faced challenges from SpaceX's legal counteractions. The outcomes could set precedents for labor activism across industries. NASA, a key SpaceX partner, has avoided commenting on the situation, highlighting the complexity of addressing workplace culture in high-stakes environments.
Bloomberg reporters Josh Eidelson and Loren Grush recently went deep on a tangle of lawsuits orbiting SpaceX, all related to toxic workplace allegations including sexual harassment and retaliation. They join the Elon, Inc., panel to tell us what they found. Also, Dana and Max discuss a new feud developing between Musk and venture capitalist Reid Hoffman while delivering some thoughts on the fate of those who short Tesla stock.