Tesla cracks down with home visits to curb sick leave abuse
Due to frequent medical leaves, employees at Tesla's large factory near Berlin can expect home visits from management. The company has emphasized the importance of "work ethics." Managers argue that these inspections are not unusual.
Home visits began after the company checked the illness rate among the factory's 12,000 employees. This rate rose to 17% in August, up from a persistent 11% earlier.
The German daily Handelsblatt obtained recordings in which the plant's management criticizes employees on medical leave, calling their behavior "dishonorable." Managers explain that they informed employees about the planned home visits. This notice was reportedly met with satisfaction from the workforce, which had complained about colleagues' absence at work.
According to the employees, almost all areas of the plant reported a "heavy workload." When there is a staff shortage, Tesla pressures sick employees, and those who are still healthy are overwhelmed with additional work, employees complain.
If the factory management really wants to reduce the number of sick days, it should break this vicious circle, says Dirk Schulze, district director of IG Metall Berlin-Brandenburg-Saxony, in an interview with the daily.
Union representatives believe that unannounced home visits to employees are another "absurd" action against the illness rate.
Fridays on sick leave
The management of Tesla's German factory believes that the cause of sick leaves is not the working conditions. Employees report sick more often on Fridays and late shifts than on other days of the week, says André Thierig, the plant manager, to the daily.
He adds that working conditions are not a matter of concern because they are the same on all working days and shifts. In his opinion, the German social system is somewhat exploited.
