SpaceX’s Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell came under fire after responding to employee complaints with a directive to “focus on your job.” This retort followed an open letter from workers alleging that the company was dismissive of their concerns.
In 2022, SpaceX employees voiced their grievances in an open letter, prompting a response from Shotwell. The COO’s email entreated workers to concentrate on SpaceX’s mission of getting humanity to Mars as quickly as possible. This reply followed an accusatory open letter that criticized the company for its brusque treatment of employee concerns and uneven enforcement of discipline policies.
The aftermath of the open letter saw nine employees dismissed, leading to eight of them filing unfair labor practice complaints with the National Labor Relations Board.
Safety concerns, in particular, remain a significant issue for SpaceX workers. An investigation Reuters revealed that at least 600 employees were injured at SpaceX facilities since 2014. The report detailed instances of head injuries, crushed fingers, and traumatic brain injuries among workers. Moreover, safety lapses ranged from workers taking unauthorized stimulants to endure harsh working conditions to allegations of CEO Elon Musk displaying indifference to safety protocols.
Regarding the company’s injury rates, findings reported that SpaceX’s three facilities had significantly high injury rates compared to the wider space industry. The Texas site had an average injury rate of 4.8 injuries per 100 workers in 2022, while California and Texas sites recorded rates of 1.8 and 2.7, respectively.
Former employee Tom Moline, who was dismissed after raising workplace complaints, suggested that, “The company justifies casting aside anything that could stand in the way of accomplishing that goal, including worker safety.”
Insider’s request for comment from SpaceX received no response at the time of reaching out.