A recent survey by IG Metall revealed that a staggering 83% of employees at the facility feel overworked, with 59% reporting physical discomfort due to their working conditions.

Tesla is facing serious allegations of labor law violations at its Grüneide plant in Brandenburg, Germany, including harassment of sick employees and withholding wages from those on medical leave.

High absenteeism rates at the Gigafactory, responsible for producing battery cells and the Model Y, have been attributed to challenging working conditions, as reported by the German autoworkers' union IG Metall.

IG Metall has condemned Tesla's actions as 'brazen', noting that many employees have been misled into believing they owe money to the company for sick days taken.

The company has been sending letters and mass emails to sick employees, questioning their claims and demanding personal medical information, which is typically not required under German law.

Tesla's declining sales in Germany may be linked to public perception of Elon Musk's controversial political actions, further complicating the company's relationship with its employees.

The situation is severe enough that Tesla workers are utilizing union legal protections at a rate 21 times higher than in other industries.

The company's management culture, heavily influenced by CEO Elon Musk, is marked by confrontation and distrust, which undermines workers' rights and discourages union organization.

Workers are reportedly being pressured into signing termination agreements to avoid repaying perceived 'overpayments', effectively resulting in job loss.

Tesla's current practices, which include wage suspensions and repayment demands, could severely damage its reputation in Germany, a country known for strong worker protections.

In an attempt to combat absenteeism, Tesla announced plans for unannounced home visits to verify sick leave claims, but this has not effectively reduced the absentee rate.

Unlike competitors like Volkswagen, which has over 90% union representation, Tesla's workforce is largely uninformed about their rights, exacerbating the labor issues.