Live data from Hacker News

100s of Twitter employees leaving after Musk's 'extremely hardcore' work demands

theverge.com

101–110 of 125 posts

Re: 100s of Twitter employees leaving after Musk's 'extremely hardcore' work demands

#101

Who’s gonna say yes to “extreme hardcore” without “significant pay raise”? The momentarily desperate and the nihilistic. I imagine a proportion will say “sure” and do absolutely nothing until they finally get fired. While another group will say yes up to the very minute they find another job.

> Who’s gonna say yes to “extreme hardcore” without “significant pay raise”?

I can see one group of people: those who genuinely care about Twitter and have felt frustrated under previous management. But you have to wonder why they didn't already leave.

Re: 100s of Twitter employees leaving after Musk's 'extremely hardcore' work demands

#102
What’s missing in almost all of the discussion is that billionaires rarely buy media companies to maximise their profits. It’s down to maximise their power.

As long as Twitter remains the social media portal for politicians, business leaders, media, journalists, and scientists, he controls the algorithm.

He also gets to advertise at will to the most powerful people on the planet.

His largest business risk is political. He needs the government support for spaceX and he might need them to mitigate Tesla class action liabilities.

For 1/10th the market cap of Tesla he owns the ‘Town square’.

Presumably he could pay off the debt if he wanted to, unless Tesla shares crater.

Now that he owns Twitter, his biggest risk is pushback from employees. He needs and rewards loyalty, and so forcing people to opt-out and pledge allegiance early is also critical.

The short, medium, or even long term economics of the Twitter business are not relevant and he’s using it as a smokescreen to hide the power play he’s making.

Like Trump, he understands power and doesn’t concern himself with truth.

Re: 100s of Twitter employees leaving after Musk's 'extremely hardcore' work demands

#103
post #4

Kylie Robison (Tech reporter for @FortuneMagazine): What I’m hearing from Twitter employees; It looks like roughly 75% of the remaining 3,700ish Twitter employees have not opted to stay after the “hardcore” email. https://twitter.com/kyliebytes/status/1593391167718113280

To be honest, I wonder if they could band together and challenge this in court. While companies get tons of leeway, you might be surprised that there's sometimes protection.

Even if legal, what Musk is doing is incredibly sleazy. The employees agreed to work on certain terms. Then he demands they agree to different terms. Seems sketchy, but I think I know what they'd argue.

It's just a really creepy thing. I don't think I've really seen or heard of it elsewhere. You work for me, so sign here for different terms, or you lose your job.

I do know that it's probably legal in most jurisdictions for CEOs to just dictate new work conditions, after hiring (though it shouldn't). However, it doesn't normally come in the form of a button you must push to agree with him, "or else". Usually you have a meeting where you explain the plans moving forward... it seems companies that are scared of being sued do this.

I can't imagine this is a legally prudent move. We should enact laws that specifically target CEOs that act like cartoon characters. Of course, that would just let them be more secretive or quiet.

Re: 100s of Twitter employees leaving after Musk's 'extremely hardcore' work demands

#104
post #8
post #5

someone on blind is saying there are fewer than 300 employees left

I doubt it come on. this is all fun but he can actually have reduced in force that much

I agree, he can. ;) I think he just got on 300 signees; that's the number. So an enormous number I imagine are calling his bluff, but intend to let the checks to keep cashing. I would almost 100% do that if it was me.

I guess I'd probably be gone by now.

Re: 100s of Twitter employees leaving after Musk's 'extremely hardcore' work demands

#105
post #97
post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not just thanksgiving, by the world cup is starting next week as well and that usually drives a lot of traffic

And World Cup traffic will be bursty. Big game, big event in game. Could really peak message volume and this is even geographically distributed. So fun times for those left there to fight the fires.

During the 2010 World Cup, Twitter crashed every time a goal was scored. It was a major motivation for the rearchitecture that changed it from a monorail to services. The rock-solid stability during the 2014 World Cup vindicated that effort.

With that context, the performance during this World Cup will be especially meaningful.

Re: 100s of Twitter employees leaving after Musk's 'extremely hardcore' work demands

#106
post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find the colloquial use of "Elon" to be pretty lame, like when people call Mark Zuckerberg "Mark" only. News sources don't do that, it's usually only losers who either want to imply familiarity or refer to him in a vaguely disrespectful way. There are lots of instances where people would be getting upset over way less - here I just think it makes one look like a loser (not singling out the parent, there are lots of…

What an incredibly cringe comment. Names are used to reference a person, Elon as a name makes it painstakingly obvious who is being talked about. Mark pointedly does not. To call someone a loser and dribble about this asinine analysis of familiarity. It is infuriating to read. How I wish you had been born in the middle ages with Lord's and Lady's, you would be happier and so would I for never having to know of your e…

The Musk simps are getting more deranged by the hour.

Re: 100s of Twitter employees leaving after Musk's 'extremely hardcore' work demands

#107
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> So Elon paid $44B for a company now with 900-odd employees. For a 10-year ROI, that's $4.4B per year profit, or $440 million/per employee. Your math is off. $4.4B per year profit / 1000 employees = $4.4M per year profit per employee.

So still higher than some of the highest benchmarks. 2x instead of 20x. Still tough.

Worse than that; the Netflix figure is for _revenue_, not profit.

Re: 100s of Twitter employees leaving after Musk's 'extremely hardcore' work demands

#108
post #4

Kylie Robison (Tech reporter for @FortuneMagazine): What I’m hearing from Twitter employees; It looks like roughly 75% of the remaining 3,700ish Twitter employees have not opted to stay after the “hardcore” email. https://twitter.com/kyliebytes/status/1593391167718113280

To be honest, I wonder if they could band together and challenge this in court. While companies get tons of leeway, you might be surprised that there's sometimes protection. Even if legal, what Musk is doing is incredibly sleazy. The employees agreed to work on certain terms. Then he demands they agree to different terms. Seems sketchy, but I think I know what they'd argue. It's just a really creepy thing. I don't th…

It's the USA why wouldn't he be able to just fire people? He gives them 3 month should be plenty enough

Re: 100s of Twitter employees leaving after Musk's 'extremely hardcore' work demands

#109

I think there are going to be two levels of shock: 1) Never give people an ultimatum. It basically never works in your favor. That was such a dumb thing by Elon and his team. I don't think Elon expected the numbers to be so high. 2) Workers often overestimate their own worth within a company or how easily they can be replaced. It's likely that all the people leaving saying Twitter is going to majorly break soon won't…

I find the colloquial use of "Elon" to be pretty lame, like when people call Mark Zuckerberg "Mark" only. News sources don't do that, it's usually only losers who either want to imply familiarity or refer to him in a vaguely disrespectful way. There are lots of instances where people would be getting upset over way less - here I just think it makes one look like a loser (not singling out the parent, there are lots of…

What is the proper term of address for Saint Car?

Re: 100s of Twitter employees leaving after Musk's 'extremely hardcore' work demands

#110

Hundres as in with 2 whole zeros? out of almost 10k? WOW they gonna half hundreds less now!

"Twitter had roughly 2,900 remaining employees before the deadline Thursday,"

That's still a lot of employees... Hopefully for Musk, they kept the better ones.

Post reply on HN