Elon Musk, are you for him or against?
Elon Musk as representing capitalism
The most impressive scene from NHK (Japan’s public broadcasting station) featuring Elon Musk was female Twitter workers crying in sorrow and confusion because she was fired by Mr. Musk.
It brought home to me that even American workers got saddened and shocked if they were suddenly dismissed without having talks with employers.
Because losing job is a matter of economic security as well as human pride.
In this sense, Japanese HRM system is right in avoiding dismissing workers with firm belief that lifetime employment should be for human.
I know firing workers suits for economical purposes, but it does more harm than good in the long term.
Here are the reasons:
1. Spreading fears of losing jobs among workers
Unlike Japanese workers, American counterparts knows he or she get fired if productivity reduced.
But knowing is one thing and experiencing is another.
Every one gets negative feelings when dismissed.
I wonder it makes sense if workers are under constant threat of being disemployed when they fail at work.
The way Elon Musk treat workers is as hardcore as most inhumane companies do: Just fire if he or she trips.
Those stringently-ruled companies lose trusts also from existing workers because they might give second thoughts on staying longer citing little care for human aspects.
2. Against pro-human trends
For the last 30 years, HRM has been going towards humanity not profits.
Disemployment should be the last resort for management when no other choice left.
Today’s consumers are watchful for company’s conducts especially if it doesn’t comply with new social morals.
Firing workers without mutual understanding must stir evil arguments against the company.
3. No good for talent shortage
Fierce competition for excellent human resources is getting harsher.
Competitive candidates demand for more pay and for better work conditions such as remote work and no extra working hours.
That means hiring workers is becoming much harder unless companies can provide generous work conditions to candidates.
Anachronism of Elon Musk
Elon Musk says in the TV program that all what counts is absolute devotion to work and extraordinary passion and I hate union things.
Where is work-life balance? Where is care for workers? Where is employees’ welfare?
Does he sound too anachronism?
I hear that way.
Investors also to blame
Whatever seemingly inhumane, too masculine or little democratic, Elon Musk goes his way.
Because investors approve the way he goes: They approve of his merciless firing, displacing pro-democratic workers with pro-Musk counterparts and vanishing ombudsman posts to Twitter for social fairness.
Not all workers go for fairness, integrity and hate speech.
Does Japan see him as an evil destroying workers’ welfare or as an angel helping the rich become richer?
Ichiro Noro
Professor, Seiwa University
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