Tesla Inc. just started bidding farewell to more than 3,000 employees, the biggest layoffs in the company’s 15-year history. Some of those who lost their jobs have had surprisingly positive parting words to share with the chief executive who let them go.
“It is the right thing for the company,” wrote Kevin Throop, a sales manager who had been at Tesla since 2014. He was replying to a tweet from Elon Musk announcing the termination of 9 percent of the workforce. “I don’t regret giving all I had and in a way bidding adieu is my last contribution.”
Throop wasn’t the only newly unemployed Tesla worker to cheer on his former boss on Twitter.
Tesla’s shares initially pared gains following news of the layoffs, though the stock still closed Tuesday up 3.2 percent. The stock jumped as much as 2.8 percent as of 10:35 a.m. Thursday in New York and has risen five straight days, the longest streak since Oct. 6.
“I’m deeply grateful for your many contributions to our mission,” wrote Musk, who purchased $24.9 million worth of Tesla shares Tuesday. “It is very difficult to say goodbye.”