Tesla takes hard line: Home visits to curb sick leave abuse

Due to frequent sick leaves, employees of the large Tesla factory near Berlin can expect visits from management at home. The company has appealed to the workforce regarding "work ethics." Managers argue that inspections are not unusual.

Home visits began when the company checked the level of illnesses among the factory's 12,000 employees. In August, the rate rose to 17%, and initially, it maintained a high level of 11%.

The German daily "Handelsblatt" obtained recordings in which the factory management criticizes employees for spending time on sick leave. Their behaviour is called "dishonourable." Managers explain that they informed employees about planned home visits, which were reportedly welcomed by the workforce who complained about colleagues' absence at work.

They explain that employees from almost all areas of the plant reported "extremely high workloads." If staff is lacking, Tesla exerts pressure on the sick and overburdens those who are still healthy with additional work - employees complain.

If the factory management really wants to reduce the number of illnesses, it should break this vicious circle, says Dirk Schulze, district director of IG Metall Berlin-Brandenburg-Saxony, in an interview with the daily.

According to unionists, unannounced visits to employees' homes are "another absurd action against the illness rate."

The management of the German Tesla factory believes that the cause of sick leaves is not working conditions. Employees more often report sick on Fridays and during late shifts than on other days of the week, says André Thierig, the plant manager, daily.

He adds that working conditions are not a matter of concern because they are the same on all working days and on all shifts. In his opinion, the German social system is being exploited to some extent.