Trae Cervantes, a former engineering technician, recently resigned from Tesla's Gigafactory in Nevada after seven years, citing moral conflicts with CEO Elon Musk's actions. Cervantes' departure highlights the growing concerns some employees have regarding Musk's leadership and its impact on the company. His decision reflects a respect for his colleagues but a rejection of the ethical direction set by the leadership.
Cervantes began his career at Tesla in 2018 as a production associate and steadily advanced to an engineering technician role. Despite career growth and positive experiences at Tesla, he felt increasingly conflicted, especially after Musk's public behavior and political commentary became more prominent. "Last year, I started to be ashamed to tell people where I work," he admitted. The turning point came when Musk appeared to make a gesture that resembled a "Nazi salute". Cervantes stated, "It seemed so morally wrong. I didn't want to be associated with that". He also felt that a "giveaway for prospective voters" was "morally wrong". These incidents, combined with Tesla's unfulfilled promises, such as full self-driving vehicles, led him to feel ethically conflicted about remaining with the company.
Cervantes described his final conversation with his supervisor as emotional. "I have to leave. I can't do this anymore. It's getting to a point where I feel like I'm compromising myself morally by walking through those doors every day," he said. Cervantes left Tesla without securing another job. "I didn't leave the place because of the company. I left because of the face of the company," Cervantes asserted.
Musk's leadership style has faced increasing scrutiny. A Wharton professor described Musk's confrontational tactics, such as publicly berating employees and smearing critics, as contradictory to effective leadership principles. Some experts warn that Musk's leadership style is bad for business and mental health. His demanding nature and high expectations have led to a work culture where burnout is common. While some corporate executives admire Musk's authoritarianism, organizational psychologists argue that true leadership requires collaboration, respect, and empathy.
Tesla's stock has fallen nearly 40% since early 2023, and some investors have publicly criticized Tesla's leadership as "delusional". Musk's divided focus, including his attention to political projects, has raised doubts. Some Tesla employees have asked for Musk to resign, attributing a massive demand problem to the CEO. One employee was reportedly fired for it. These employees feel that the damage to Musk's personal brand has become a burden for Tesla.
The decision to leave a stable job, particularly in uncertain economic times, underscores the deep-seated moral objections and disillusionment with Musk's conduct. Cervantes' resignation reflects a growing trend of employees leaving Tesla due to concerns about Musk's leadership. Tesla's former CFO responded to the news, saying, "It is definitely not for the faint of heart! It was great working with you especially during those tough days!".
