Tesla CEO Elon Musk sent two contradictory emails to company employees in the first week of October. The first email, sent on October 3, stated that a colleague requested to listen to music at work using one earbud, making the job more enjoyable while keeping the other ear free to hear safety issues. Musk expressed his love for music and his willingness to entertain other suggestions that could make employees happier at work, even proposing to play music through speakers if there was an agreement on what to play.
However, happiness was short-lived, as Musk sent a second email the following day that was more severe. He outlined only three options for managers to respond to his directives via email: explain why the request was wrong, ask for further clarification, or comply. He concluded the second email by stating that any manager failing to adhere to one of the three options would be asked to resign immediately.
During this time, Tesla announced record deliveries in the third quarter despite supply chain pressures, notably a chip shortage. The company also finally released the long-awaited "Full Self-Driving Beta" button, allowing Tesla owners to sign up for driver assistance programs to test on public roads before the official release.
On October 4, Tesla lost a significant case in a federal court in San Francisco when a jury decided that the company must pay around $137 million to Owen Diaz, a former employee, who endured a racially hostile work environment during his time at Tesla's Fremont factory in California.
