The only way for an employee to know that they have been fired is with a warning letter, a comment from their superior, or a message on some online platform such as email or another application. But the story of Haraldur Thorleifsson it is much more complex. Yeah, It was from Twitter and with Elon Musk at the helm.
As a report published on the website of abcThorleifsson, who until recently worked at Twitter, logged into his computer last Sunday for work, only to find himself locked out, along with 200 other people.
For him it was logical to think that he was the victim of Musk’s layoff ax, which since he arrived at the company has left hundreds of people without work.
After nine days with no response from Twitter on whether or not he was still under contract, Thorleifsson decided to tweet Musk to see if he could get the billionaire’s attention and get an answer to his employment situation..
“Dear Elon Musk. 9 days ago my work computer was cut off, along with 200 other Twitter employees. However, his HR manager can’t confirm if I’m an employee or not. You have not responded to my emails. Maybe if enough people retweet, you’ll reply to me here?he wrote on Monday.
Dear @elonmusk 👋
9 days ago the access to my work computer was cut, along with about 200 other Twitter employees.
However your head of HR is not able to confirm if I am an employee or not. You’ve not answered my emails.
Maybe if enough people retweet you’ll answer me here?
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 6, 2023
Musk’s sharp response and criticism
He finally got his answer after a surreal exchange on Twitter with Musk, who proceeded to question him about his work, questioned his disability and the need for accommodations. The problem with the latest is that Thorleifsson, who calls herself “Halli,” has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair.
Hi again @elonmusk 👋
I hope you are well.
I’m fine too. I’m thankful for your interest in my health.
But since you mentioned it, I wanted to give you more info.
I have muscular dystrophy. It has many effects on my body.
Let me tell you what they are: https://t.co/2vb16kP6Yv
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
The also CEO of Tesla and SpaceX tweeted that “the reason he confronted me in public was to get a big payment.” As the trade was taking place, Thorleifsson said he received an email that he was no longer hired. It’s unclear what his position was, but Musk complained that he “couldn’t write.”
The reality is that this guy (who is independently wealthy) did not actually work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm.
Can’t say I have a lot of respect for that.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023
However, on Tuesday afternoon, Musk changed his mind: “I would like to apologize to Halli for my misunderstanding of her situation. She relied on things that I was told were not true, or in some cases true, but not significant. She is considering staying on Twitter”.
I would like to apologize to Halli for my misunderstanding of his situation. It was based on things I was told that were untrue or, in some cases, true, but not meaningful.
He is considering remaining at Twitter.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023
“You had every right to fire me. But it would have been nice to let me know!“, answered.
Hi Elon!
The reason I asked you in public is because you (or anyone else at Twitter) didn’t reply to my private messages.
You had every right to lay me off. But it would have been nice to let me know!
As for my disability I wrote you about that here: https://t.co/E4MDQUvgVo
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023
Halli, who is Icelandic, revealed his next move: “I am going to open a restaurant in the center of Reykjavik very soon. It’s named after my mom”.
In other news, I’m opening a restaurant in downtown Reykjavik very soon.
It’s named after my mom. Like many mom’s she was the best mom in the world.
Kind, funny, hard working and a wonderful artist. And cool, oh boy was she cool.
See you soon at @AnnaJona pic.twitter.com/YfmcXo3s9k
— Halli (@iamharaldur) March 7, 2023