Tesla Faces Backlash Over Treatment of Sick Workers at Grünheide Factory

The automaker is accused of withholding wages, challenging medical certificates, and pressuring employees to disclose health details.

Tesla's Grünheide factory has been criticized for allegedly withholding wages from employees on sick leave and demanding repayment of previously paid salaries.
The company has reportedly sent letters to workers questioning the validity of their medical certificates and requesting they release their doctors from confidentiality obligations.
Tesla management claims the high sick leave rate, which reached 15% in summer 2024, is linked to misuse of the social system rather than poor working conditions.
The IG Metall union accuses Tesla of using intimidation tactics, including pressuring employees to sign termination agreements under threat of financial consequences.
Tesla has defended its actions as legal and justified, citing instances of suspected fraudulent sick leave, while the union reports a surge in legal disputes over these practices.