Tesla's Berlin Gigafactory Faces Criticism

Tesla's Berlin Gigafactory has faced significant issues with employee absenteeism, with sick leave rates reaching 17% in August, far exceeding the German auto industry average of 5.2%. In response, managers have conducted home visits to verify sickness claims, a practice defended by Tesla but criticized as creating a 'culture of fear' by the IG Metall union. Workers have reported high workloads and stress, contributing to the high absenteeism rates. Elon Musk has acknowledged the issue and stated he is investigating the reports. The factory's management has also tried offering financial incentives for attendance, but these measures have not sufficiently lowered absenteeism rates.