Former Twitter Employees Win Legal Victories Against Elon Musk’s Layoffs

Former Twitter employees have recently achieved early victories in legal challenges related to the mass layoffs that occurred when Elon Musk took control of the company in 2022.

More than two years have passed since Elon Musk took over Twitter, and the transition was marked by significant drama both behind the scenes and publicly. While many welcomed the change, citing frustrations with Twitter’s previous censorship, employees were anxious about potential job losses.

A Fork in the Road

Elon Musk, known for his focus on efficiency, sent an email to Twitter employees under the subject line “A Fork in the Road,” giving them an ultimatum: commit to an “extremely hardcore” work culture or leave the company.

Recently, four former employees won a closed-door arbitration case, arguing that they were wrongfully denied severance after their termination despite not responding to the aforementioned email. This small victory has raised predictions that Musk will be facing more lawsuits as he applies the same aggressive strategies in his new position as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The Argument of the Four Workers

Upon acquiring Twitter at a cost of $44 billion, Musk slashed the workforce by more than half, prompting former employees to file complaints. Early arbitration losses for Musk could lead to rising pressure for further settlements from other employees seeking severance compensation ranging from nearly $100,000 to over $1 million. Shannon Liss-Riordan, a lawyer representing the former employees, noted that the cases won so far have significantly increased the company’s financial liabilities through added interest, arbitration costs, and legal fees.

Union groups and Democratic representatives are now leading the charge in litigation against Musk’s decisions.

Is Musk Going Too Far?

Despite ongoing legal challenges from former Twitter employees, Musk continues to implement similar strategies at DOGE. His recent actions included sending a mass email to federal workers echoing the “Fork in the Road” sentiment, warning of upcoming layoffs, and demanding justification for their positions.

The situation has drawn mixed responses from the public. While many are supporting DOGE’s efforts at streamlining government operations, others express concern over aggressive tactics. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration’s methods, asserting they comply with executive authority.

Trump has also backed Musk, framing his measures as necessary to eliminate waste in the federal bureaucracy. However, affected workers, unions, and even some constituents from Republican areas have voiced opposition.

Twitter’s Former Employees Talk About Musk

Former Twitter executives predicted that Musk’s aggressive approach would carry over into government roles, with plans for extensive workforce reductions at organizations like the United States Agency for International Development.

Musk reportedly took swift action after acquiring Twitter, dismissing top executives within hours and proceeding to lay off approximately 50% of the workforce, ultimately reducing his staff by 80%. His DOGE role seems to imitate these drastic measures, suggesting a similar trajectory for federal employees facing new demands under the Trump administration.

Federal employees must decide by Thursday whether to comply with Musk’s demands for reliability and commitment or opt for a buyout. However, uncertainties remain about the availability of promised severance funds.