On Thursday, half of Twitter’s employees were laid off in a mass email dismissal. The internal message stated that employees would be informed of their layoff status via email by 9 AM PST.
Musk is also ending all remote work and requiring remaining employees to show up at their offices, although there could be exceptions made.
The Daily Mail obtained a copy of the email that was sent to all staff, including those who will be laid off and those who will not.
Those who have been laid off have been notified that, depending on their position, they will continue to be employed by the social media giant until either January or February next year. However, their last day of work will be November 4, and they are not expected to work, and all access will be deactivated.
The remaining employees have been told that the office would be closed until November 7th and that they should “refrain from discussing confidential company information.”
So the email reportedly sent out was true. More than generous! pic.twitter.com/hP2leKmesU
— Gays For TRUMP (@GaysForTrumpUS) November 4, 2022
On the same day, Elon Musk accused activist groups of “trying to destroy free speech in America” with their pressure tactics to drive advertisers away from Twitter after he took control of the social media company. Musk said Twitter has seen a “massive drop in revenue.”
Musk caused controversy this week by proposing verified users pay a nominal fee for the privilege.
“Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is bullsh*t. Power to the people! Blue for $8/month,” Musk said.
Musk claims this will provide Twitter with an additional revenue stream to compensate content creators considering the left is already targeting its advertisers.
“Twitter has had a massive drop in revenue, due to activist groups pressuring advertisers, even though nothing has changed with content moderation and we did everything we could to appease the activists,” Musk said. “Extremely messed up! They’re trying to destroy free speech in America.”
Twitter has had a massive drop in revenue, due to activist groups pressuring advertisers, even though nothing has changed with content moderation and we did everything we could to appease the activists.
Extremely messed up! They’re trying to destroy free speech in America.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2022
Several advertisers have indicated they are temporarily halting spending while they await Elon Musk’s next move with the platform.
Elon Musk agreed with a tweet by Ian Miles Chong stating, “It’s time to stop appeasing the activists because they will stop at nothing to hurt Twitter regardless of what you do.”
You’re right
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2022
Musk clarified on Friday night why he fired half of Twitter’s staff. According to him, there is no other way when the company is losing revenue every day.
“Regarding Twitter’s reduction in force, unfortunately there is no choice when the company is losing over $4M/day,” he said.
“Everyone exited was offered 3 months of severance, which is 50% more than legally required,” he added.
Regarding Twitter’s reduction in force, unfortunately there is no choice when the company is losing over $4M/day.
Everyone exited was offered 3 months of severance, which is 50% more than legally required.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2022
