Musk's X illegally fired worker challenging office return -US labor board

Reuters

Published Oct 13, 2023 04:49PM ET

Updated Oct 13, 2023 06:05PM ET

(Reuters) -Elon Musk's X illegally fired an employee in retaliation for her internet posts challenging its return-to-office policy, the U.S. labor board alleged on Friday.

In the complaint, a regional director of the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) accused X — formerly known as Twitter — of violating the federal law that prohibits punishing employees for communicating and organizing with others about their working conditions.

X did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The NLRB said the dispute began on Nov. 10, 2022, after Musk ordered workers back to the office last November and reportedly said "if you can physically make it to an office and you don't show up, resignation accepted".

Employee Yao Yue responded with a post on Twitter telling fellow workers, "Don't resign, let him fire you." A few days later, she was terminated in violation of the National Labor Relations Act, according to the complaint.

Musk completed his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter last October and began his ownership with a round of firings, including top executives, laying off more than half of its workforce as a cost-cutting measure.