SpaceX Illegally Fired Employees , That Were Critical of Elon Musk, Labor Agency Says.<br />On Jan. 3, a U.S. labor agency accused SpaceX of illegally firing eight workers for distributing a letter referring to Musk as as a "distraction and embarrassment," NBC News reports. .<br />On Jan. 3, a U.S. labor agency accused SpaceX of illegally firing eight workers for distributing a letter referring to Musk as as a "distraction and embarrassment," NBC News reports. .<br />A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) official issued a complaint alleging that the workers' rights had been violated under federal law...<br />... as they attempted to band together to achieve better working conditions. .<br />The letter, which was sent to company <br />executives in 2022, cited tweets, some <br />sexually suggestive, Musk has made over the years.<br />The employees called on SpaceX to take action since they felt Musk's statements <br />didn't align with diversity and workplace misconduct policies held by the company.<br />SpaceX is also accused of interrogating and threatening to fire anyone involved with the letter.<br />Deborah Lawrence, one of the fired employees, <br />said that SpaceX fosters a "toxic culture.".<br />We wrote the open letter to <br />leadership not out of malice, <br />but because we cared about the <br />mission and the people around us, Deborah Lawrence, former SpaceX employee, via NBC News.<br />The NLRB's general counsel brings <br />cases to its five-member board.<br />Unless SpaceX reaches a settlement, an administrative judge will hear and decide the case.<br />A hearing will take place on March 5.<br />If SpaceX is found to have broken the law, fired workers can be reinstated, provided back pay, and steeper penalties could be issued in the future
