SpaceX fires employees who criticized CEO Elon Musk: Reports

SpaceX, the spacecraft manufacturer headquartered in Hawthorne, California, has fired numerous employees who published an open letter that criticized CEO Elon Musk, according to multiple reports.

Reports have pointed to an email from Gwynne Shotwell, the company’s president. The missive states that SpaceX had to terminate the employees who crafted and shared the letter, which blasted Musk, who also runs electric car maker Tesla.

Shotwell’s letter called the group’s actions a “frequent source of distraction and embarrassment for us, particularly in recent weeks.”

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The employees have not been named. It is not known how many SpaceX workers have lost their job.

The firings follow another report that claims Musk paid $250,000 to a SpaceX flight attendant to prevent a potential sexual harassment lawsuit against him. Last month Shotwell told employees that she believes the accusations were false.

Termination for cause?

In Canada, an employer can fire an employee for cause if that person’s actions constitute insubordination or gross misconduct. When such a termination occurs, the employer is not required to provide a severance package. The individual is also unable to access Employment Insurance payments.

While the option to fire without compensation exists, many employers who dismiss staff in this manner often do so incorrectly. They allege cause – also known as the capital punishment of employment law – before properly establishing that an employee’s conduct has met that threshold. Incidents like being late for work, making mistakes, failing a performance improvement plan or posting an inappropriate comment on social media are likely not going to be viewed as legitimate triggers for “just cause” termination.

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When an employer does not have cause to fire someone, it is called a termination without cause. When this occurs, a company must give the outgoing employee a full severance package, which can amount to as much as 24 months’ pay when properly calculated. Failure to offer the correct amount can result in a wrongful dismissal claim through an employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

Talk to an employment lawyer

If you lose your job in Canada, with or without cause, contact Samfiru Tumarkin LLP immediately. Our experienced employment lawyers have represented tens of thousands of non-unionized employees in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Our ability to secure correct compensation is backed up by decades of proven results.