Elon Musk will lose 75% of Twitter’s remaining personnel after hundreds of employees left and others defied the CEO’s deadline to decide whether to stay or depart.
Musk emailed his remaining 3,700 employees on Wednesday, giving them until Thursday at 5:00 p.m. ET to either click a link confirming their desire to work “long hours at high intensity” or resign with three months’ severance pay.
According to contacts of Fortune reporter Kylie Robinson within the company, approximately 75 percent of the remaining employees at the San Francisco-based company ignored the email that would determine their future.
She then clarified that it is unclear how many individuals have disregarded the relationship.
The Verge reports that approximately 2,900 of the remaining 3,700 employees have elected to remain. If accurate, this would indicate that a greater share of the remaining workforce will continue, but exact numbers have not yet been disclosed.
The New York Times claimed that employees leaving the social media behemoth posted their farewells on the company’s Slack network.
The company’s remaining employees are prohibited from returning to the office until Monday.
The Twitter CEO, who is active on social media, tweeted at 7:50 p.m.: “How do you build a fortune on social media?” Begin with a large one.’
Later, he said, ‘The top employees are remaining, so I’m not very concerned.’
Meanwhile, social media users criticized Musk on Twitter with the hashtag #RIPTwitter and sarcastically linked the company’s huge exodus to the Titanic sinking and a house on fire.
Musk responded with a tweet depicting the Twitter bird emblem on a tombstone.
Elon Musk has reportedly barred his decreasing Twitter crew from their offices until the next week out of worry that dissatisfied employees may harm the company.
Without explanation, Twitter employees were informed that all of their offices will be closed until next week, beginning immediately.
According to a message given to Twitter employees and viewed by the BBC, office buildings will be temporarily closed and badge access will be prohibited until Monday.
Hundreds of Twitter employees are thought to be leaving the struggling social media business in response to Musk’s ultimatum that personnel must sign up for ‘long hours at high intensity’ or go.
According to rumors, Musk has chosen to close the headquarters out of concern that the dissatisfied employees will harm the company.
Twitter notified employees of the workplace closures through email.
“I appreciate your adaptability. Please continue to adhere to business policy by not sharing private company information on social media, with the press, or anywhere else.
Hundreds of employees reportedly refused Musk’s ultimatum to work longer, more intense hours in order to create a new “hardcore” Twitter. The CEO stated that people who do not register will be terminated.
According to two sources, the corporation informed its staff that it will close its offices and restrict badge access until Monday. Thursday evening, security agents began kicking staff out of the office, according to a source.
According to Bloomberg, Musk modified his blanket ban on remote work in a follow-up email after more employees than he anticipated decided to leave on Thursday afternoon.
In a follow-up regarding working from home, he stated, “All that is required for approval is that your manager assumes responsibility for ensuring that you are making an outstanding contribution.”
Musk previously stated that remote work would no longer be permitted and that staff would be required to spend at least 40 hours per week in the office.
According to a transcript of a meeting obtained by Verge, he informed staff that if they did not report to work, their resignation would be accepted.
According to employees, it would be impossible for the company to revive after losing important personnel.
One employee remarked, “It feels as though all the people who made this place extraordinary are going.” It will be exceedingly difficult for Twitter to recover from this situation, regardless of how dedicated the remaining users are.
The social media business emailed employees at the end of Thursday’s workday to inform them that badge access to the office buildings would be banned until Monday.
Zo Schiffer, managing editor at Platformer, was informed by sources that the temporary office’s closure was prompted by concerns that the business will be overrun by staff.
Schiffer wrote: “We’re hearing this because Elon Musk and his team are scared staff would damage the company.” In addition, they are currently determining which Twitter employees must have their access restricted.
In the interim, employees posted their farewells on Twitter.
“And just like that, after 12 years, I’m leaving Twitter,” wrote Satanjeev Banergee. I have nothing but affection for all my fellow Twitter users, both past and current. A thousand faces and a thousand scenes are currently racing through my mind – ‘I love you, Twitter, and I’ll bleed blue forever.’
It comes only weeks after Musk let off over 3,700 Twitter employees, or half of the company’s personnel, in an effort to make the social media network profitable.
Musk has attacked Twitter’s budget and work culture, stating that the firm need drastic cost reductions and a complete relaunch of its services.
Musk included a link to a Google Form with a single answer option: “Yes” in the email he sent to staff on Wednesday morning, in which he asked them to affirm his extreme vision or quit.
According to a copy of the memo obtained by CNBC, he stated that anyone who did not submit the paperwork would be terminated with three months’ severance pay.
“Going forward, in order to construct a revolutionary Twitter 2.0 and succeed in a world that is becoming increasingly competitive, we will need to be exceedingly tenacious,” he said.
This will necessitate lengthy hours of intense effort. Only excellent achievement will be rewarded with a passing grade,’ stated Musk.
Musk stated that under his leadership, Twitter would be “far more engineering-driven” and that “people developing amazing code will form the majority of our staff and have the most influence.”
“Thank you for your efforts to make Twitter successful, whatever decision you make,” he added.
Since his Twitter takeover, the world’s wealthiest man, who is the Tesla CEO and a billionaire, has begun aggressively lowering costs.
Even after enormous layoffs that compelled the company to offer some employees in important departments a chance to return, several employees reported being sacked on Tuesday.
They believed it was due to publishing negative comments about the firm or Musk on Twitter or the company’s internal messaging network.
Musk referred to himself as a “free speech absolutist” when pursuing the Twitter acquisition.
One insider told Reuters that they received a termination email that stated, “Your recent behavior has broken corporate rules,” adding that he estimates more than 20 workers were let go in the most recent round.
Tuesday, several others reported that they had received identical emails.
Musk tweeted on Tuesday, “I’d want to apologize for dismissing these geniuses.” Their considerable talent will undoubtedly be put to excellent use somewhere.