SpaceX Faces Accusations of Wrongful Termination Over Criticisms of Elon Musk

SpaceX, the aerospace manufacturer led by multi-billionaire Elon Musk, is under scrutiny as it faces allegations of unlawfully firing eight employees who openly criticized Musk’s leadership. According to a complaint filed by a regional official at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the workers sent an open letter to SpaceX executives in 2022 outlining their workplace concerns, referring to Musk as a “distraction and embarrassment.”

The complaint accuses SpaceX of violating federal labor laws that protect employees’ rights to advocate collectively for better working conditions. The document also claims that the employees involved in the open letter were subjected to interrogation before being terminated.

Lawyers representing one of the former employees, Deborah Lawrence, have described SpaceX’s culture as “toxic” and claim that harassment is tolerated within the company. In a statement, Lawrence mentioned that the open letter was written out of concern for the mission and the well-being of colleagues.

The NLRB’s general counsel, acting as a prosecutor, brings cases to the organization’s five-member board appointed by the president. If SpaceX does not reach a settlement, the case will proceed to an administrative judge, whose decision can be appealed to the board and then to a federal appeals court. A hearing is scheduled for March 5.

If the NLRB determines that the firings violated labor law, it has the authority to order the reinstatement of workers and provide back pay. Elon Musk’s companies, including Tesla, have faced accusations of violating employees’ rights in the past. In October, the NLRB accused Twitter, formerly known as X, of unlawfully firing an employee over tweets challenging the company’s return-to-office policy. Tesla has also encountered several NLRB complaints, including allegations of race discrimination, which the company denies.

In a separate incident in August, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against SpaceX, alleging discrimination against refugees and asylum seekers in its hiring practices. Musk responded to the lawsuit on Twitter, stating, “US law requires at least a green card to be hired at SpaceX, as rockets are considered advanced weapons technology.” SpaceX has yet to comment on the recent accusations of wrongful termination.