In a surprising move, Tesla recently announced an all-hands meeting on short notice, leaving many employees feeling puzzled. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss Tesla's recent achievements, but the unusual timing and a deleted livestream link only added to the confusion among the workforce.
According to a memo obtained by Business Insider, Tesla informed its employees about the all-hands meeting shortly before it was scheduled to commence. The company sent out a link to a Teams chat and an X livestream on Thursday night, urging employees to "Join the Company All Hands to hear about Tesla's recent achievements and how we're making the impossible possible." The event was set to start at 9:30 p.m. ET, which is outside the typical hours for such meetings.
Many workers expressed their confusion regarding the last-minute announcement. Communication on Teams revealed that employees were caught off guard, as Tesla usually schedules all-hands meetings during regular work hours. One Tesla engineer remarked, "It feels a bit hasty. No one was expecting this tonight, and we're all just trying to catch up." Some employees even learned about the meeting through social media, raising questions about its authenticity.
Another employee voiced skepticism, suggesting that the meeting seemed more like a publicity stunt aimed at investors rather than a genuine effort to engage with the workforce. "This is for the investors, not the workers," the employee stated.
Adding to the chaos, Tesla initially posted a livestream link that was later deleted about 30 minutes before the event was set to begin. During this brief livestream, a man's voice could be heard mentioning seemingly random phrases such as "Dylan on stage" and "Stock parts. Joe. That's the best I can do." Many employees attempted to access the livestream, but the link was non-functional due to its deletion.
As the clock ticked closer to 9:30 p.m. ET, Tesla managed to restart a new livestream; however, it remained silent for nearly 30 minutes. Elon Musk tweeted a link to the event at 9:45 p.m. ET, and the official livestream finally began streaming at 9:58 p.m., concluding at 11:00 p.m. ET.
Just two hours prior to addressing employees at the Texas Gigafactory, Musk's private jet arrived in Austin. During the hour-long call, Musk shared updates on various aspects of Tesla, including the company's safety record, delivery figures, and advancements in autonomous driving and robotics. Following these updates, Musk opened the floor to questions from his employees.
Despite the optimistic presentation, Tesla has been facing significant challenges in recent months. The company's stock has plummeted over 37% year-to-date, and a series of protests have erupted across Tesla sales and service centers in recent weeks. Musk acknowledged the negative sentiment surrounding the brand, stating, "If you read the news, it feels like armageddon. I can't walk past the TV without seeing a Tesla on fire. What's going on?" He added, "Listen, I understand if you don't want to buy our product, but you don't have to burn it down. That's a bit unreasonable."
A spokesperson for Tesla did not respond to requests for comment regarding the all-hands meeting and the confusion it caused among employees.
