Former Tesla employee reveals what Elon Musk would do if you were close to being fired
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: The Iced Coffee Hour/YouTube/Shutterstock
A former Tesla employee has revealed what Elon Musk would usually do if you were close to being fired.
Carl Medlock worked as a territory manager for Tesla from 2009 to 2013, and recently lifted the lid on working for Musk on a podcast.
The former Telsa employee appeared on The Iced Coffee Hour in August to talk about his experience at the company.
In the nearly hour-long chat, Medlock revealed what the Tesla boss usually did if you were close to being fired.
Advert
He said: "If Elon is micromanaging you, you're probably on you way out because he hires good people [and] lets them do their thing."
Medlock revealed that it was 'fun' working for Musk, but he often didn't socialise with his workers. He continued: "He would talk to you if he needed to talk to you, but he didn't just go BS with people at all."
The former Tesla employee was also asked if Musk would ever joke around with the staff at work. "I never saw it," said Medlock.
Advert
The Tesla specialist also spoke on the profound respect all the staff had for Musk. "One of the respectful things that everybody at Tesla did without even saying it, when he was with kids, nobody disrespected him – nobody went over there and talked to him.
Elsewhere on the podcast, Medlock revealed his story of leaving the company and getting fired.
He said: "There was a car in Hawaii that was all scratched up, so an email came to me from somebody way high up at Tesla and said fix the problem.
Advert
"My boss said 'I don't care what he says' you're not going to Hawaii for more than $500.
"I said we need to take care of this lady, she's in her third year of owning this car and she still has not been able to drive it because it is so scratched up."
Medlock said he got the go ahead so shipped all the products, like buffer and polisher, to the customer.
Advert
Medlock said his son went to fix the car and that the lady was 'raving' about it, but this was the end of Medlock at Tesla. He continued: "My boss looks at me and goes 'you are not gonna live through this'.
"He told HR that the trip was not authorised, and we got fired for an unauthorised trip to Hawaii."