The billionaire owner and CEO Linda Yaccarino dialed in from out of town, vaguely touting new features that will roll out in the coming months.


There is very little surprising about Elon Musk’s methods of running X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, seemingly into the ground. A year after Musk officially took over the platform, both he and recently installed X CEO Linda Yaccarino held a joint all-hands Thursday to address some of the changes at the company and suggested that X might be a new financial platform.

Neither Musk himself nor Yaccarino showed up, according to a report from Fortune Thursday. The two executives dialed in remotely from Austin and New York City, respectively, citing an anonymous source within the company. Musk and Yaccarino skipping out on an in-person appearance during the all-hands comes after the former demanded employees return to office 40 hours per week last November, according to Insider, in one of his first sweeping changes as owner.

read more: https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-called-in-remotely-to-first-x-all-hands-1850966088

archive link: https://archive.ph/2F2SZ

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The only thing worse than having to go to the office to watch a video of Elon, is watching him in person

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      I don’t think that’s fair. When he took over Twitter, he was there every hour of the day for the first few weeks, sleeping in the office. He’s now running 6 major companies all around the US and people complain about using private jets then about not using them to show up to some events.

      Don’t get me wrong, I would never want to work for him and strongly prefer remote work, but this claim is just unfair, he’s not working from home, he’s working from other companies he’s running.

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        1 year ago

        I wonder how many of those are still the case now? When he first took over, that was absolutely huge deal, since it’s extremely difficult to find another job as a visa worker. But it’s not impossible and Twitter employees would have very strong resumes. It’s been so long that I suspect many of those who wanted to leave could have found another company willing to sponsor by now.

        There’s definitely Musk fanboys in the company. There’s no shortage of people, especially the “tech bro” type, who somehow still adore Musk.

    • metallic_substance@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I work in manufacturing in the bay area. We hire so many people who are ex-tesla workers. Anyone enchanted by Elon quickly loses their gusto for the job after working there. I’ve heard some horror stories about how they treat their technicians

    • Neuromancer@lemm.ee
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      Money. I had some friends at Tesla early on and became millionaires from the stock options.

      Twitter. No idea why anyone is left.

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      When I started working, I was dedicated to work and wanted nothing else than to produce lines of code, I just loved it so much. Having a boss that was like this, dedicated and loved hard workers, I’d have loved working for him. Few years later? Fuck that, give me 100% remote, 35h/w with 7 weeks vacations, I’d be truely happy that way!

  • Gingerlegs@lemmy.world
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    My boss recently did the same because he “accidentally” schedule his vacation at the same time of our yearly goal setting meeting. Lol.

    But fuck me for buying plane tickets for my vacation 6 months in advance when they were on sale and I didn’t have the days approved off. $300 wasted and a giant fuck you a year later. 👍

    • Bread@sh.itjust.works
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      That’s the thing though. When we schedule those days off, it is more of a friendly notice than a request. I am going, you can’t stop me. If you would rather have to replace an employee and retrain them, be my guest. Its not worth it for them unless you do something easily replaceable.

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          Yeah. As a manager, I’m often surprised that team members who report to me don’t actually realize this.

          Actual conversation I’ve had:

          “Thanks for letting me know your time off plans. I have to cover this logistic, but we will work around it.”

          “I mean, I can change it if it’s too much trouble.”

          “How would your spouse feel about that?”

          “Pissed.”

          "And if your spouse wanted you to change jobs, how long would that take?

          “Oh.”

          (Oh meaning - At most, four weeks in an average market for their skillset, more like 3 months in the current unprecedentedly slow market. Either way, it’s hell for me covering their lost expertise and then training their replacement.)

          “Yeah. Thanks for letting me know. We will make it work. Tell your spouse I said ‘Hi’ and ‘thanks’ for the early heads up.”

          • Buddahriffic@lemmy.world
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            Yeah I wish more people would realize this. If a business can’t afford to give you vacation time, they are even less able to afford losing that employee entirely.

            And if push comes to shove, you don’t quit and go on vacation anyways. You go on vacation anyways and let them fire you when you get back if that’s what they’re inclined to do about it.

      • prole@sh.itjust.works
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        You are completely misrepresenting the power dynamic between employer and employee. The entire reason unions exist is to attempt to correct that power imbalance.

        • Bread@sh.itjust.works
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          I agree and disagree. For the average low paying job that doesn’t require any skill or knowledge, a union is the only arguing power you have. However, if you are hard to replace because of skill/knowledge and you know it, the power balances back. You have the power to say no without consequences.

          Obviously don’t push it to where the cost of replacing you is worth it for your employer, but you have more power than most realize. Making yourself invaluable only increases your say in how things go. So getting the time you requested off is certainly doable.

          • orrk@lemmy.world
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            I have seen plenty of companies can someone with specialized knowledge, no mater how much you are the only person to know something, you are still less important than your bosses vacation, or the department financing, and this is from tel-co development, where island knowledge is almost the norm

            • Bread@sh.itjust.works
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              But for taking their requested vacations? I would highly doubt that for specialized employees. It is very costly to replace an employee like that. Unless the employer is an actual idiot (which can certainly be the case) they know they can’t afford to lose you.

              If you work for the kind of employer that fires the very critical person for a job without a great reason for doing so, do you really want to stay there? They probably aren’t a great employer.

              • prole@sh.itjust.works
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                The point is, if it’s an otherwise good job, and you don’t want to have uproot and move your family to a different state again. If you want stability in your and your family’s life. Maybe it doesn’t make sense to individually attempt to bargain for yourself.

                Maybe you bargain collectively with your coworkers, and get better conditions for EVERYBODY. And then you don’t have to move again and force you children to meet new friends. Again.

                It bums me out when I see people like you who would be a force of good in a union, then it turns out that they’re 100% just in it for them (not even their family).

              • orrk@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                first off, they don’t care about “being a good employer” they care about cost optimization, if they can get someone to do the job for cheaper, even if to a significantly lower standard they will do it

          • prole@sh.itjust.works
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            This just isn’t how life works in reality, and (no offense, but) unfortunately it’s bullshit anti-union propaganda that you’re pushing whether you realize it or not.

            I am in a highly specialized STEM field, and I’m in a union, and that union has been nothing but amazing for myself and my colleagues. In fact, we are in the process of negotiating a great new contract that would never have even been on the table sans union.

            Without collective bargaining, everyone is much worse off. You just take what contract they give you or walk. Great way to build a career. Don’t buy the hyper-individualist, “they’ll all just bring you down,” bullshit rhetoric.

            There’s a reason management is (nearly) always dead set against it, to the point where they’ll spend millions convincing working class folks to vote against their interests, and it isn’t out of the kindness of their hearts.

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        We all know this is not how the conversation goes man. 90% of people can’t and/or don’t operate this way. People online often talk big game like this. “Demand a raise or leave.” Well, they didn’t give it, I have kids in school and a wife with a good job and a mortgage. Do I just quit then uproot them and move somewhere else? At this point that’s probably the only way I’ll get a new job with a substantial pay bump that isn’t where I am.

        There is also a huge bias towards extroverts in this style advice when the system itself should allow everyone working to have an upward trajectory if they want it/can handle it. Instead many companies gladly sit back and let the less extroverted among them quietly sit at the same pay for 18-24mo at a time. It’s not right but it’s reality, they are basically playing mind games with folks who avoid confrontation.

        Luckily, I do play hardball a bit with my company, but that’s because I’m a white male negotiating with white males and it’s a “startup” so negotiations are frequent. But I know that if they start stonewalling me, I’m going to be in a very difficult position, because quitting is not something I can do very easily without causing havoc for my family.

      • macaroni1556@lemmy.ca
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        It’s a common misconception, in most countries the time off you get is a right but not when you get it.

        If your boss wants you to take specific days off you must oblige. If they say spread your vacation out over the next 10 Tuesdays that’s the end of it.

        • csfirecracker@lemmyf.uk
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          I think they’re arguing that unless you make yourself easily replaceable, you don’t have to make it a negotiation. They aren’t arguing the law, they’re just talking power dynamics.

          • macaroni1556@lemmy.ca
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            But I’m saying it’s not a freindly notice, it is a request and it can be denied and dictated at any time.

            Most companies aren’t idiots about it, and I would quit on the spot if my company denied my time off at the last minute, but you don’t know their situation. That’s why we need rights!

            • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
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              Nah, fuck that noise. I’m not a child or a slave. It’s a notice not a request. You don’t get to dictate my time just cause you are paying me to sell you my time. If you’re such a child that you are incapable of doing your job as a manager. Then I didn’t need this job anyway, there are plenty more.

            • csfirecracker@lemmyf.uk
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              Your point regarding the legalities of the situation wasn’t missed. I agree with you that we need rights, but the point on the other side is while they can indeed say no, they cannot compel you to come in through means other than threatening firing you. They can say no and attempt to intimidate you, but firing and retraining for most non-entry level roles is a lot of work and often not worth the time and effort compared to letting an employee have a week off.

              So while it is formally a request, we as employees can present it as an ultimatum and often if you aren’t terrible at your job, the power-tripping boss will realize it is easier for them to acquiesce and let you have your vacation than it is to go through the hiring process.

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                I see, so the situation is simple. All you need is a good job. Man, why didn’t I think of that.

                Why don’t all these people living on the street go home?

  • andrew_bidlaw@sh.itjust.works
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    At this point I’m only surprised about the picture. I’ve seen photoes of Twitter logo&name being demontaged from their headquarter a year ago, but then I’ve seen a lot of images of X physically installed somewhere, like this one. Are they real? It looks so, so bad.

  • EnderMB@lemmy.world
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    It’s basically the story for most VP+ level execs at big tech companies. All parroting RTO rules, while on video in their home office, or from an office that isn’t assigned to them…

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    Downvote Musk spam.

    The billionaire doesn’t need your help ensuring him and his businesses stay in the 24 hour news cycle. Don’t be a useful idiot.

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      I would agree, but seeing as tho Musk’s entire fortune is built on his image, anything that can damage it is good for humanity, and let’s be honest he is paying for the shit ton of “Musk the myth, the Legend” articles, so why not boost the ones calling him out?

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        I agree with you, but Musk operates on the “any publicity is good publicity” strategy. He doesn’t care if it’s good news or bad news.

        Also we’ve had heaps of bad news about Musk and yet the cycle continues even after he has been called out countless times. In reality, articles like this that wouldn’t even make the news for another company have one effect - they keep Musk and his businesses in the 24 hour news cycle.

        • orrk@lemmy.world
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          considering how much effort Musk puts into trying to get rid of/bury bad press, I would have to disagree with you

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    I’m sure Xwitter pays well but I am surprised that the employees stick around due to all Musk has done to destroy the company.

    • MajorHavoc@lemmy.world
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      Yeah. There’s some speculation that most of those who stayed are probably stuck due to life circumstances like visa sponsorship.

      Edit: I imagine they’re not staying for the stock options, at this point, in any case!

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    There is very little surprising about Elon Musk’s methods of running X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, seemingly into the ground.

    I disagree. There is much about it that is very surprising, which is why we’re still talking about it. Maybe he meant “There’s very little that people should be surprised about, because this shit has been going on for a year now, and it just keeps getting dumber and dumber.”

    which Yaccarino tweeted about on Wednesday.

    Are we still calling it that? Wouldn’t she have Xed it?

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        The comedy heist movie almost writes itself.

        “We created a backdoor into the system, but now we’re just waiting because it crashed and it’s down right now.”

        “We smuggled an EMP into the data center, but it didn’t do anything because it turns out everything critical is actually running on someone’s laptop in the accounting team.”

        • ours@lemmy.world
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          Oh you wanted to crash data center 2? Nah, *Elon went there and ripped the servers out himself on a cost cutting trip.

          *Elon actually did this.

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      As I understand, a significant amount of the employees who stayed are ones who depend on steady work to stay in the country. For these folks, sabotaging their company could ultimately end in being deported. IDK about you but I don’t think that’s the hill I’d die on.

    • PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works
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      It’s a giant sheet metal steel X?( Looks galvanized steel but could be aluminum dk dc). A decent dent in one of the support legs combined with a smidge of force and the unit may come tumbling down. For fucks sake two w8 beams welded in the middle with a center support column mounted in concrete would have been soooo much stronger and cheaper

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    if that big dumb annoying “x” at the top of the building is there illegally

    HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING would the law actually prosecute anyone for trying to remove it without their consent?

    i mean… it’d be tricky to get rid of that thing without employing dangerous tools. it’s not like anyone would condone dropping thermite or munitions on it from a drone… and you probably can’t fit power tools on a drone or exert enough force with a drone for those power tools to be effective.

    but still, just as a thought experiment, how might one go about removing an unsanctioned structural eyesore from a building, as a “public service”?

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      Some BBs could probably smash enough of the lights in it from a distance?

      Or maybe paintballs to make it green

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        ooh i like that

        i bet a drone could carry an airbrush actually

        fly right up and dye the bulbs trans flag colors X3

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    I can’t imagine that Yaccarino will ever have a high-positioned post after this. She championed a shitshow. She didn’t get out when it was obvious that it was tanking. No one will trust her again.

    Then again, these types tend to bounce around from plane crash to plane crash…