Carmaker wants to ‘appeal to employees’ work ethic’ but move prompts outrage from plant’s union

The boss of a Tesla factory has defended the decision to send managers to the homes of workers on long-term sick leave.

In recent weeks, a director of Tesla’s electric car plant in Germany sent managers to check up on about two dozen employees who have continued to be paid while being on sick leave over the past nine months.

André Thierig, the plant’s manufacturing director, said the home visits were common practice in the industry and that the company simply wanted to “appeal to the employees’ work ethic”.

The move by Elon Musk’s US-headquartered carmaker has sparked outrage at the trade union IG Metall, which represents a proportion of the 12,000 workers at the Berlin-Brandenburg gigafactory.

  • JASN_DE@lemmy.worldEnglish
    521·
    1 month ago

    André Thierig, the plant’s manufacturing director, said the home visits were common practice in the industry and that the company simply wanted to “appeal to the employees’ work ethic”.

    Translation: Tesla wants to pressure people to return to work. What else would one expect from a company run by that assclown.

    • jacksilver@lemmy.worldEnglish
      168·
      1 month ago

      It mentions these are people who have been on sick leave for over 9 months. I don’t know how sick leave works in Germany, but isn’t there a point where the leave has effectively turned permanent and the slack should be picked up by social services rather than a private business?

      • Death_Equity@lemmy.worldEnglish
        33·
        1 month ago

        6 weeks are the employer’s responsibility, after that the Krankenkasse takes over for 70% of wages for 72 weeks across 3 years.

        Maybe Tesla has some sort of perk of extended/unlimited sick leave?

        • jacksilver@lemmy.worldEnglish
          152·
          1 month ago

          Thanks for the answer. Sounds like they’re still well within the 72 weeks if I understand that correctly?

          As for everyone down voting me, I’m not sure what the issue is. I didn’t say people shouldn’t get sick leave, but that society should be responsible rather than an individual corporation (that also doesn’t mean corporations shouldn’t pay into social services).

          A reason for that is that if enough people are on payroll and not working it could end a business. The end result would be business attempting to avoid hiring anyone who could end up on long term sick leave.

          • Death_Equity@lemmy.worldEnglish
            12·
            1 month ago

            They are within the 3 years, at 9 months, so they would be getting 24 weeks of pay per year at 70% of wages.

            The Krankenkasse is a public health insurance fund that is funded by employee and employer matched contributions.

          • cmhe@lemmy.worldEnglish
            8·
            1 month ago

            I think you misunderstood, after 6 weeks Telsa doesn’t need to pay anything, the state ensurance pays them 70% of their wage.

            • GBU_28@lemm.eeEnglish
              6·
              1 month ago

              Clarifying:

              The government pays them a reduced salary: 70% of their wage. Tesla does not pay the other 30 during that time