Twitter Staff Face 12-Hour Shifts Amid Layoffs and Performance Reviews

Strategic Insights -

Staff at Twitter have been working extensive hours, with some managers reporting 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, amid the looming threat of layoffs under new owner Elon Musk. The strain on staff is further complicated by the fact that managers are also feeling the pressure, with some sleeping at the office on Friday and Saturday nights. The company's top managers were pulled into meetings with Musk and his team, where they were asked to describe their division's work and are now feeling assessed. As Musk's team plans to cut around a quarter of Twitter's staff in a first round of layoffs, staff are left wondering about their job security and whether they will get overtime pay, time off in lieu, or job security for working long hours.

Key Takeaways:

  • Twitter staff have been working 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, equivalent to 84 hours a week, to meet Musk's deadlines.
  • Some managers have been asked to sleep at Twitter's office on Friday and Saturday nights due to the intense workload.
  • Musk's team has assigned staff coding projects, known as sprints, and asked them to make major changes to Twitter's verification service.
  • Staff worry that their careers at Twitter could be over if they don't complete their tasks by early November deadlines.
  • Twitter's managers are conducting performance reviews and sending Musk's team lists of employees to keep on, with some feeling assessed and under pressure themselves.
  • Musk's team plans to cut around a quarter of Twitter's staff in a first round of layoffs, citing a person familiar with discussions.
  • Staff are concerned about job security and whether they will receive overtime pay, time off in lieu, or other benefits for working long hours.

Statistics:

  • 84 hours per week: the number of hours Twitter staff are working per week.
  • 7 days a week: the frequency of Instagram staff's workweek, with no days off.

Sources:

  • CNBC: "Elon Musk has pulled more than 50 Tesla engineers into Twitter"
  • Business Insider: "Elon Musk adds allies, Twitter staff plans layoffs for Monday"
  • Business Insider: "Verified Twitter users may have to pay to keep their badges"
  • CNBC: "Elon Musk has pulled more than 50 Tesla engineers into Twitter"
  • The New York Times: "Elon Musk takes control of Twitter"
  • The Washington Post: "Musk's team plans to cut around a quarter of Twitter's staff"
  • Business Insider: "Do you work for Twitter? Or have you been affected by the layoffs?"