• Unable to get a response from human resources to know if he had been fired or not from Twitter, an employee directly challenged Elon Musk on the social network.
  • Elon Musk responded with laughter dead emojis, before questioning the missions, the quality of work of this former employee and even his disability.
  • Rarely, a few hours later, the billionaire finally apologized.

Some bosses are more human than others. But obviously, this is not the case of Elon Musk, the CEO of Twitter. On Monday, one of his team managers, Haraldur Thorleifsson, called him directly on the social network to find out if he was still part of the company's workforce. The man, based in Iceland, had been working since 2021 for the firm, which bought his design company. But, about ten days ago, like "200 other Twitter employees", his work computer was cut off.

After asking the question to Twitter's human resources – without getting an answer – he called out his boss, directly on the social network. "Dear Elon Musk [...] Your HR manager is unable to confirm whether I am still employed or not. You didn't respond to my emails. Maybe if enough people retweet, you'll reply here? A few hours later, the billionaire replied... in its own way.

Dear @elonmusk 👋

9 days ago the access to my work computer was cut, along with about 200 other Twitter employees.

However your head of HR is not able to confirm if I am an employee or not. You've not answered my emails.

Maybe if enough people retweet you'll answer me here?

— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 6, 2023

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Emojis dead of laughter as an answer

In a series of several tweets – each more hallucinating as the other – Elon Musk first questions him about his position, before questioning his missions and the quality of his work. After a few messages, the new CEO of the bluebird firm simply sent a tweet with two emojis dead of laughter - without officially providing a response.

In another message, Elon Musk then disputed Haraldur Thorleifsson's disability situation: "The reality is that this guy (who is otherwise rich) did not actually work, claimed as an excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing [on a keyboard], but simultaneously tweeted like a tornado. I can't say I have much respect for that. »

The reality is that this guy (who is independently wealthy) did no actual work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm.

Can't say I have a lot of respect for that.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023

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A few hours later, human resources confirmed to Haraldur Thorleifsson that he had been fired from Twitter. But the former employee wanted to set the record straight, especially on his disability. « [...] Since you mentioned it, I wanted to give you more information. I have muscular dystrophy. It has many effects on my body. Let me detail them for you," he wrote.

My legs were the first to go. When I was 25 years old I started using a wheelchair.

It's been 20 years since that happened.

In that time the rest of my body has been failing me too. I need help to get in and out of bed and use the toilet

— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023

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Taking up the accusations of his former boss, he detailed, point by point, his disability: the use of the wheelchair since he was 20 years old, the loss of the use of his legs and arms or the necessary help on a daily basis. As for the wealth mentioned by Elon Musk, Haraldur Thorleifsson owes it to his design company that he sold to Twitter in 2021, before joining the firm himself. "I joined the company at a time when [it] was growing rapidly. You've kind of done the opposite," he told Elon Musk. "The next question is whether I will receive my due in accordance with my contract?!" the former employee then concluded in a final message. A question that remained unanswered.

"It's a long story"

A few hours later, the billionaire published a new tweet - far from his habits - to apologize. "I would like to apologize to Halli for my misunderstanding of his situation. It was based on things I had been told that were false or, in some cases, true, but not meaningful. He plans to stay at Twitter. »

I would like to apologize to Halli for my misunderstanding of his situation. It was based on things I was told that were untrue or, in some cases, true, but not meaningful.

He is considering remaining at Twitter.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023

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He also added that he had called Haraldur Thorleifsson: "... I just made a video call with Halli to understand what's real versus what I've been told. It's a long story. Better to talk to people than to communicate through tweets. »

The highlight of the show, the leader even offered him to resume his position. "He plans to stay at Twitter," assured the billionaire. Haraldur Thorleifsson, for his part, did not react to this last answer. Not so sure he wants to get back to work.

  • Tech
  • By the Web
  • Elon Musk
  • Twitter
  • Social Media
  • Dismissal