[scoggs]

I think I'm about to say something that might be met with displeasure but I feel like it's a question I'd like to toss around anyways:

Is there really anything that bad about this message to the workforce? I feel like 95% of what was said is implied at other places and when that's the reality but it's never spoken of it would probably create an even higher level of anxiety? Maybe the more extended life of bigger and more dug in companies offer some sort of incentives or worker's rights that alleviate some of those anxieties?

I guess I feel like what's being said isn't surprising nor is it that remarkable, to me. What would be surprising or remarkable is if the message was: You don't have to work so hard, we're hiring 7% more people because we feel like it's a nice thing to do and regardless of our performance the failures of this company or the products we make will never be your (the workers) fault.

I'm sure everything I just said is stupid but, even if the message from Tesla rubs people the wrong way I somehow feel like the harsh truth might just be an OK pill to swallow compared to the, "Aren't you going at least buy me dinner before you... " type message / ethos that I see and have felt in corporate environments for decades?

[bradleyjg]

The harsh truth is that the company is offering a particular compensation package for a particular expectation of work. If an employee doesn’t like the trade, he can and should leave. That’s not what the letter says. It pretends that we are all in this together to save the world.

[lukeqsee]

> Is there really anything that bad about this message to the workforce?

No—there's nothing wrong with it. The results might be bad, though.

2019 will be hard for Tesla and its workforce. When things are hard, people start asking the question "Is it worth it?"

This could very well have been the very best way to handle the business necessity of reducing the workforce by 7%; it just might have some bad consequences that were unavoidable when the available business options are: be unprofitable or layoff workers.

My comment was aimed at the realities (2019 will be hard for Tesla and employees)—not a moral comment on the action of laying off people.

[scoggs]

I've agreed with everything you said not only in this comment I'm replying to but also your original top level one -- it's just that it spurred the thought in my mind to ask the questions I did and say what I said. Hope it didn't come off otherwise.

[lukeqsee]

Nope. :) Just clarifying my parent comment in case it was misunderstood in context of the response. I agreed with your comment, as well.