Elon Musk’s looming fight with Twitter’s CEO is a source of great concern for employees at the company – many of whom are reportedly concerned that the billionaire’s campaign to force change is just beginning.
Musk’s surprise rejection of a Twitter board seat came ahead of a planned “day off” for employees at the company, according to a report.
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal broke the news on his account the night before, describing Musk’s decision as “the best thing,” though he warned workers that “distractions are ahead,” Bloomberg reported late Monday.
The uncertainty left Twitter staff feeling “super stressed” about the future, with staff reportedly “working together to help each other get through the week.”
The report cited interviews with Twitter employees who asked not to be named while discussing the inner workings of the company. Several employees told the outlet that Twitter’s internal environment was an “ST show” after Musk’s deal with the board fell through.
A Twitter employee complained that Musk was probably “just beginning” to push for change at the company — a development the employee described as “unfortunate,” according to Bloomberg.
Twitter workers have been feeling “super stressed” since Elon Musk’s drama with the board of directors. Getty Images
Twitter officials are reportedly concerned that Elon Musk’s takeover of power at the company is just beginning. AFP via Getty Images
Musk has become a vocal critic of Twitter’s business practices, particularly annoyed by the platform’s content moderation policies. He’s also the company’s largest single shareholder, having acquired a 9% stake earlier this month.
Under the terms of his original agreement with Twitter, Musk would have received a seat on the board until at least 2024 and would be barred from acquiring more than 14.9% of the company. Without that deal, Musk is free to acquire a larger stake in the company and push for greater influence over its operations.
Musk updated an SEC filing on his Twitter holdings with language suggesting he plans to remain active in the company’s businesses despite his expanding business empire, which includes Tesla and SpaceX.
Twitter employees work in an office in San Francisco. Bloomberg via Getty Images
The amended filing states Musk may “voice his views to the Board of Directors and/or members of the Issuer’s management team and/or the public through social media or other channels regarding the Issuer’s business, products and service offerings.”
As reported by The Post, a Twitter representative said the company’s planned “Ask Me Anything” town hall with Musk — which was set up to address concerns from the company’s employees about his involvement — is likely “no longer happening.”
At this point, Musk’s exact plans for Twitter’s future are unclear. One prominent analyst suggested his U-turn in a board seat would spark a Game of Thrones-style battle for control of the social media platform.