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'Laptop class in la-la land': Musk ramps up assault on working from home
Business mogul Elon Musk has intensified his gripes about working from home, saying the practice is an insult to people who turn up at the workplace.
The Tesla and Twitter chief executive lashed out against what he described as the "laptop class" and questioned their morality, in an interview with CNBC.
Musk said this week many people, such as factory workers, did not have the choice of working from home.
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"People building the cars, servicing the cars, building houses, fixing houses, making the food, making all the things that people consume. It's messed up to assume that, yes, they have to go to work, but you don't," he said.
Musk went on to explain his criticism about working from home were more than concerns about productivity levels.
"It's a productivity issue, but it's also a moral issue. People should get off their goddamn moral high horse with this bull—- because they're asking everyone else to not work from home while they do. It's wrong."
Musk has pushed strongly for his workers to return to the office. Last year he gave Tesla employees an ultimatum, requiring them to spend at least 40 hours in the office every week.
Similarly, Amazon required its workers to attend the office at least three days per week from the beginning of this month.
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"The laptop class is living in la-la land," Musk told CNBC.
But in his interview he made no mention of the benefits of working from home, such as improved productivity, less commute time for workers and greater job satisfaction, merely conceding: "There are some exceptions."
Musk's comments came as Tesla held its annual shareholder meeting in Austin, Texas.
