The Facts
In an email to Twitter employees, Elon Musk said the company’s remaining staff have until Thursday to commit to working “long hours at high intensity” and be “extremely hardcore” or leave with three months of severance pay.
According to former Uber engineer Gergely Orosz, Musk’s email outlines a “Twitter 2.0” driven by engineers, with “those writing great code" taking more important roles inside the company.
The Spin
Narrative A
Twitter employees previously enjoyed an unfettered culture and aren't used to an ambitious and disciplined leader. Working hard for 40 hours a week from the office is the norm, so it shouldn't be a surprise that the company's owner is calling for just that.
Narrative B
Musk isn't just cutting costs to save money or ridding the company of poor performers; he's eradicating dissent. Multiple employees have been fired on a whim for simply liking a post critical of the CEO. If Musk wants to build a successful platform, he should refrain from declaring war on the people who design it.
