The Chief of Twitter publicly mocked one employer with disability who wasn’t aware that he’d been laid off.
Since he took over Twitter, Musk has been under fire for annoying his former and current employers.
In the latest series of events, one employer, Haraldur Thorleifsson – a senior director of design at Twitter, contacted Elon via Twitter after trying to reach out to him for several days.
It happened after Haraldur found out he could not access his work computer at Twitter headquarters.
“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?” Thorleifsson wrote on Twitter.
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
After reading his tweet, the business magnate responded in the comments and asked what work he has been doing.
What work have you been doing?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023
“I would need to break confidentiality to answer this question here. If you have your lawyers share in writing that I can do that, then I’d be happy to discuss that openly!” the Iceland-based employee replied.
I would need to break confidentiality to answer this question here.
If you have your lawyers share in writing that I can do that then I’d be happy to discuss that openly!
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
Approving his request, Musk gave him the go-ahead.
“Among others: – led the effort to save about $500k on one SaaS contract. Supported closing down many others – led prioritization of design projects across the company to make sure we were able to deliver with a small team,” Haraldur wrote. “led design crits to help level up design across the company – was hiring manager for all design roles – worked on efforts to steer the company away from focusing on power users and on to younger users (because our user base is aging)”
Among others:
– led the effort to save about $500k on one SaaS contract. Supported closing down many others
– led prioritization of design projects across the company to make sure we were able to deliver with a small team— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
In response, the multi-millionaire asked his former employee to prove his work through pictures, or he would assume that he was lying.
“Level up from what design to what? Pics or it didn’t happen. – We haven’t hired design roles in 4 months – What changes did you make to help with the youths?” he asked.
– Level up from what design to what? Pics or it didn’t happen.
– We haven’t hired design roles in 4 months
– What changes did you make to help with the youths?— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023
After reading his bizarre demanding response, Haraldur said his work computer was locked on Musk’s instructions, and he doesn’t have access to any pictures of documents since everything was saved on his computer.
You locked my computer. I don’t have access to any pics or docs. If you want to have it opened I can get you things.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
“I could go on. Am I allowed to talk about how the company has operated since you took over?” he asked. “But the original question was if I was still employed or not since you or your head of HR haven’t been able to answer that yet. But she did just miraculously reply so I finally have confirmation that I no longer work at Twitter!!”
I could go on.
Am I allowed to talk about how the company has operated since you took over?
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
But the original question was if I was still employed or not since you or your head of HR haven’t been able to answer that yet.
But she did just miraculously reply so I finally have confirmation that I no longer work at Twitter!!
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
“Now the next question is if you will make sure I get paid what I’m owed per my contract?!” he further asked.
Now the next question is if you will make sure I get paid what I’m owed per my contract?!
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
Adding more to the disgraceful interview the chief twit did in Haraldur’s comment section, he made fun of his disability and said he did no actual work at Twitter.
“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,” Musk tweeted.
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
After reading his absurd comment, Haraldure mentioned Musk in his tweet again and penned his response in a thread and explained his lifelong struggles with his disability.
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
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
For a long time I thought my arms would remain strong. A doctor told me they would.
But they ended up losing strength. Which, I don’t mind telling you, was hard to accept.
But you okay the cards you are dealt and I’ve managed to create a wonderful life.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
My family is the best. I have two kids. I see them every day. I recommend that.
My wife is fantastic. Strong, kind, smart, amazing artist. Couldn’t be happier with her.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
About nine years ago I started a company called @uenodotco
I worked a lot, it didn’t do my body any favors but it’s what I felt I needed to do.
The hard work paid off and the company became very successful.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
We worked for more or less every big tech company.
We grew fast and made money. I think that’s what you are referring to when you say independently wealthy?
That I independently made my money, as opposed to say, inherited an emerald mine.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
But after seven years I was tired. Covid was running for longer than the two weeks you said it would.
And my body was also continuing to get weaker.
After looking at many options I decided to sell my company to Twitter.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
Financially it wasn’t the best decision. My company was making a lot of money and Twitter’s offer was lower than any smart valuation would say.
But like you I made a bet on Twitter having a lot more potential than it has had.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
I joined at a time when the company was growing fast. You kind of did the opposite.
There was a lot going on. The company had a fair amount of issues, but then again, most bigger companies do.
Or even small companies, like Twitter today.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
Anyway, I digress, are you still reading? Or is the bathroom break over?
What was I saying? Ah yes, and then you bought the company and told employees you weren’t firing 75% of them. Which you then did.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
And now finally to my fingers, which I know you have great concern for. Thank you for that btw.
I’ll tell you what I told them. I’m not able to do manual work (which in this case means typing or using a mouse) for extended periods of time without my hands starting to cramp.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
But as I told HR (I’m assuming that’s the confidential health information you are sharing) I can’t work as a hands on designer for the reasons outlined above.
I’m typing this on my phone btw. It’s easier for because I only need to use one finger.
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
I hope that helps! Let me know if you are going to pay what you owe me?
I think you can afford it?
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023