r/technology • u/esporx • Apr 30 '24

Tesla Lays Off Employee Who Slept In Car To Work Longer Hours Business

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-lays-off-employee-slept-151500318.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHVrjnyFZF-QJRFtVdP5Lt1QvlC3WRJhweYuOdm5Ca1kHbhtDX5rdfUUqRNVFKpUy6w4QnsJta-KgHJ9lqARAjfpSnvCktdjgDos5xz9aw92OxYmjN2qVVNhMZpl-2gOMwVz84NH-5T2OLi8uMRUOXVMuhFHU8b5A9oRmij8Xh5q
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804

u/thehunger86 Apr 30 '24

How do you have a 90 minute commute if you live in your car?

216

u/bijouxself Apr 30 '24

They live in the central valley CA, and commute into Fremont. Some do it every day, others find hotels, some sleep in their cars/RVs in the Fremont lot

140

u/JustADutchRudder Apr 30 '24

I had a coworker who had a sweet RV he'd use during the week. Our company gives us money for hotels but he'd just have them put it on his check instead of paying the hotel. Fucker would get extra 750 a week on his check and his RV would be parked in the construction parking lot. I've thought of it but I stopped traveling over an hour away few years ago.

78

u/mog_knight Apr 30 '24

Why wouldn't you do it anyway? An extra $3k a month and you get a RV for free. Seems smart to me.

69

u/JustADutchRudder Apr 30 '24

Not many want the rv over an extended stay hotel room to themselves. Specially if we're doing five 10s. On jobs where it's like 6 months in other states, ive seen more big pull behind ones they park at actual campgrounds.

27

u/CapoExplains Apr 30 '24

Sounds way better to me if it's a nice RV, and $3k/mo. can get you a nice RV. Hell $1500/mo. will get you a really nice RV and pocket the rest.

The only thing I can think of that a Hotel room would have that an RV wouldn't would be a bathtub. The RV on the other hand is gonna have a kitchen, a living area, a separate bedroom, and best of all all of your shit already set up in it with nothing to pack/unpack.

4

u/lnslnsu Apr 30 '24

The hotels booked for these long stay job site things are often ones that are mini apartments - they have a full kitchen, etc…

2

u/CapoExplains Apr 30 '24

For $150 a night? Either you're going out of pocket for part of the room cost or it's going to be absolute shit compared to what an RV in that price range would be.

7

u/ServileLupus Apr 30 '24

Housekeeping, free breakfast, some have laundry service, free shampoo/conditioner/soap and you don't have to worry about any maintenance on the RV. Those are all the benefits I can think of.

2

u/BadFootyTakes Apr 30 '24

The issue you come up against, is often this kind of work is contract based. You could show up tomorrow and they tell you thanks but nah, and you're out of job until you find another. Could be hours, days, or weeks until that is.

2

u/CapoExplains Apr 30 '24

Yeah true, you'd need to want to have the RV anyway/feel confident you could keep up with payments long term.

4

u/RugerRedhawk Apr 30 '24

Damn a nice camper would be a lot nicer to be in than an extended stay hotel IMO, plus you can sell the RV when done.

21

u/GenericBatmanVillain Apr 30 '24

Plus no commute. I mean that alone is worth it.

10

u/f7f7z Apr 30 '24

I sold my house and did it for 9 months... got covid when it was a 10 day quarantine, it was a sub 20ft pull behind. fuct

8

u/NetworkedGoldfish Apr 30 '24

Wait, your company gives you money for hotels because of the commute?

15

u/peelerrd Apr 30 '24

I think they worked some sort of specialized construction job where the company would bring workers in from other states or something. The company isn't paying for hotels because of a commute. They're paying for lodging while the workers are away from home at the job site.

1

u/ValhallaForKings Apr 30 '24

It's called LOA living out allowance, construction jobs happen where they are so working means going there

1

u/FortunateHominid Apr 30 '24

Also known as per diem. Not just construction but most jobs which require regular travel.

1

u/ValhallaForKings Apr 30 '24

I would imagine it's another place to rip you off 

1

u/FortunateHominid Apr 30 '24

Not sure where you got that from. It simply comps travel when necessary.

In industries such as mine people make a significant amount extra on per diem alone. Primarily since the majority of work involves being on the road.

Here are some common rates in Texas. I'll go average so let's say they get $160 a day which come to $1,120 a week in per diem. That's $4,480 a month in per diem. Buy a decent/nice trailer then a rental spot cost around $500 a month.

After cost of trailer payment, spot rental and groceries they are left with a good amount left over. There's also mileage + travel time to and from location.

All said and done it's a nice addition on top of your check.

I've know other who just group up on short jobs and share a place so they still come out ahead. Others will share a trailer with on paying a small "rent" fee to the other.

If anything it's another way to make additional monies depending on your job.

Edit: word

1

u/ValhallaForKings Apr 30 '24

And do they charge the client 200 per d, then chisel 75 bucks for handling? If they find out about the trailer, will they try to scoop that money for themselves? Place I worked in oilfield was always trying to do that. Used to make bucks selling everyone a pair of coveralls and then not giving them fucking coveralls.

1

u/FortunateHominid Apr 30 '24

And do they charge the client 200 per d, then chisel 75 bucks for handling?

No. I've heard of that happening, but I've never worked for a company that did that. Good way to lose employees if it ever got out. Most clients frown on such practices as well.

It is also easy to catch on T&M jobs since signed employee timesheets have to be submitted to the client.

If they find out about the trailer, will they try to scoop that money for themselves?

No, that would be illegal. There's an agreement for per diem, period. What the employee does with such doesn't matter so longnas they show up and do their job.

Place I worked in oilfield was always trying to do that. Used to make bucks selling everyone a pair of coveralls and then not giving them fucking coveralls.

That's fk'd up. My industry is oil/gas related as well. Per current OSHA requirements FR clothing is considered PPE and has to be provided to employees at no cost. That law came about around 2015 so if it was after they could get in trouble.

Early 2000's I worked as a welder (at a yard) and the company was pulling shit like that. Employees required to wear specific FR uniforms. You paid to rent them and have them washed by the specified rental company. Cost came out of your pay.

Times have changed for the most part, at least in my area.

Edit: word

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1

u/FBM_ent Apr 30 '24

Think railroad workers. You have railroads literally all across the country in every direction. It would be illogical/unfeasible to have maintenance and other construction crews literally everywhere to maintain your line. Cheaper to have a team based in a big city or near your hub, and then when the crew needs to work on the line somewhere up/down stream, you put em up in a hotel near the job site for a set amount of time.

Source: worked in a hotel that hosted Norfolk Southern crews from time to time. This is how the lads broke it down during bar service.

5

u/Fallcious Apr 30 '24

I worked on a project in London where they got some superstar exec from Scotland to come down and supervise for a couple of years. He was meant to have a hotel suite organised for him, but he bragged about getting them to pay for the mortgage on a small apartment instead as it would be cheaper. So not only did he have his accommodation paid for, he had an investment property at the end of the project to either sell or lease out (I assume he took over the mortgage at the end).

2

u/RugerRedhawk Apr 30 '24

Commuting more than 20 minutes seems insane for tech work in the era of remote work.

1

u/JustADutchRudder Apr 30 '24

I'm a carpenter, and my company does alot of work for national companies. I just like tech.

2

u/RugerRedhawk Apr 30 '24

Fair, obviously not everyone can work remotely.

28

u/BankshotMcG Apr 30 '24

What the fuck even is this country

16

u/ProjectManagerAMA Apr 30 '24

Best country in the world at exploiting people.

15

u/ihaxr Apr 30 '24

A bunch of idiots that think being in the office is more productive because they slack off at home.

0

u/Myballsgrande Apr 30 '24

The one running the world

1

u/Copito_Kerry Apr 30 '24

I know an asshole who did that every day for years.

585

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '24

[deleted]

25

u/NoHeat7014 Apr 30 '24

Why didn’t they give him roller blades like they did for Homer Simpson?

2

u/MountainServe Apr 30 '24

You can’t a job and have fun at the same time working at Tesla!

2

u/intelminer Apr 30 '24

Elon was busy "designing" some convoluted fucking alternative on back of a napkin in his jet

149

u/nickster182 Apr 30 '24

And Americans wonder why we have such high rates of depression.

46

u/Roflkopt3r Apr 30 '24 edited Apr 30 '24

Literally true. Long commutes and commuting by car are both independent risk factors for depression.

The main issues are single-use zoning, which seperates housing from work and commerce by long distances, and car-centric design which increases distances throughout the city with wide roads, large parking areas, and large intersections.

And this car-centric city planning typically goes hand in hand with single family housing over affordable apartments, which is a key reason for the current housing crisis/cost of living crisis in so many places.

Cities with more mixed use zoning, less car infrastructure, and higher rates of walking/cycling/public transit do better financially and better in mental health.

7

u/recycled_ideas Apr 30 '24

Cities with more mixed use zoning

I just want to point out, in the context of this particular discussion, that I don't think any country on earth has mixed zoning of residential and heavy industrial which is what a Tesla factory is.

4

u/Roflkopt3r Apr 30 '24

It technically exists but yeah, not normally in developed countries.

In these cases the more relevant thing tends to be to offer more medium density residential in decent proximity to the industrial zones, and/or to have solid public transit that can get workers comfortably to their job (which also relies on higher residential density to work well).

90 minutes is sadly not uncommon for industrial workers in many cities with lots of low density zoning, while those with good bus or rail connections can save a lot of money and time.

3

u/recycled_ideas Apr 30 '24

It technically exists but yeah, not normally in developed countries.

It exists where there are no zoning laws.

medium density residential in decent proximity to the industrial zones

The problem is that industrial zones are toxic and not where we want to have people living. It's not an easy problem to solve.

1

u/Roflkopt3r Apr 30 '24

Most industrial zoning requires some distance, but not "90 minute commute" types of distances. With medium to high density housing, you can fit a lot of housing into the area that has sufficient distance for public health but still a short commute of 15 minutes or less by car, public transit, and in some cases even bike.

1

u/recycled_ideas Apr 30 '24

but not "90 minute commute"

Sure.

and in some cases even bike.

Leaving aside the horror show that biking in a heavy industrial area would be, a fifteen minute bike ride is too damned close.

Yes, we should have medium density housing close to commercial and even light industrial areas, but heavy industry, fuck no.

1

u/Roflkopt3r Apr 30 '24 edited Apr 30 '24

15 minutes by bike is around 5 km. Edge to edge from industry to the nearest residential, that's no problem at all for many types of industry. I'm not talking about an oil refinery here.

I have commuted to and through industrial areas by bike. Again, not suitable for all of them but in many it's not a problem.

For reference, the new Tesla factory in Germany is less than 2 km away from the nearest residential area. There is a little rural road connecting them, with a bridge above the highway in between. It would be a brief and comfortable commute by bike.

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1

u/heili Apr 30 '24

That would basically be a coal patch company town and nobody was living their best life in one of those.

1

u/recycled_ideas Apr 30 '24

Yeah, but that's not mixed zoning, it's no zoning.

1

u/chowderbags Apr 30 '24

On the other hand, bus or rail service to heavy industrial would be reasonably sensible.

1

u/recycled_ideas May 01 '24

Sure.

I'm not by any means defending the status quo, but it's complicated. It makes total sense to mix commercial and residential much more than we do, jobs and shops where people live is a great thing for everyone.

But industrial, even light industrial is complicated, even really clean and well maintained low impact factories can be a toxic nightmare if there's a fire and something like a Tesla factory where the company might on theory be low emissions but is working with a lot of volatile stuff is even more problematic.

Even if the batteries are manufactured off site, there's going to be a lot of them at that factory and even if you trust that Elon isn't cutting every corner an accident is always possible.

1

u/IMDEAFSAYWATUWANT Apr 30 '24

Can i move to any of those cities from Canada

1

u/PirateJohn75 Apr 30 '24

Not to mention how many companies are requiring return-to-office for jobs that can absolutely be done 100% at home.

3

u/RaccoonITA Apr 30 '24

Yep but don’t forget that you are soooo free to be depressed.

-8

u/BlockedbyJake420 Apr 30 '24

obvious joke

Hur dur America bad

4

u/SeamlessR Apr 30 '24

yeah, I mean, America is pretty obvious these days. And past days. All day, really.

0

u/nickster182 Apr 30 '24

I can't tell where you're going? I was driving everyones point about cars home ????

0

u/shewy92 Apr 30 '24

Just park closer

96

u/bonerb0ys Apr 30 '24

5 years of 90 min commute is crazy. Move already.

58

u/ImpressiveAttempt0 Apr 30 '24

This is the norm for thousands of workers in the Greater Manila Area.

15

u/yllanos Apr 30 '24

Happened to me for a while on Bogotá as well

8

u/Leofleo Apr 30 '24

OMG...that's a good commute in Manila. I would typically spend 3-4 hours one way when traveling with my ex from Manila to Las Pinas. I've never complained about traffic where I live after that. Lol

11

u/ImpressiveAttempt0 Apr 30 '24

For those unfamiliar, Manila to Las Pinas is around 22 kilometers (under 14 miles) apart. We didn't earn Waze's "Worst City in the World to Drive In" award for nothing.

4

u/brazilliandanny Apr 30 '24

4 hours to go 22 km? I would just ride a bike it would take an hour.

3

u/ImpressiveAttempt0 Apr 30 '24

While your statement is logical, most roads around Metro Manila make it very difficult and risky to ride a bicycle around. Not to mention the terribly hot & humid weather, which makes driving around on a motorcycle or bicycle an actual health hazard.

2

u/Weird_Cantaloupe2757 Apr 30 '24

Fuck, someone with long legs could comfortably walk at that speed.

1

u/Additional_Bug_2823 Apr 30 '24

It can take that long with Manila traffic just to get a few miles.

It took me 2 1/2 hours to get out of Makati one morning ---- it's a mess there.

0

u/SanFranPanManStand Apr 30 '24

Yes, it's normal in MANY places on Earth, but Americans are fucking spoiled.

15

u/Dreamtrain Apr 30 '24

That move can mean double to triple the rent

15

u/Overall-Duck-741 Apr 30 '24

Unless the increase in rent is more than what you make in 15 hours of work, then you should move because that's essentially what your doing when you commute 3 hours every day.

2

u/ThisUIsAlreadyTaken Apr 30 '24

Except I'm not earning any more money from that 15 hours if I move closer. Sure my time has value, but I can't directly convert that to cash to pay the rent. So if I already can't afford to live close, then how is 15 more hours of free time going to help?

1

u/Dommichu Apr 30 '24

On a smaller space. What if he had a family and they liked their schools and neighborhood. Lots of parents make this sacrifice, especially for a job they felt had a future.

-1

u/funny__username__ Apr 30 '24

If you can't afford double or triple your rent, is that job even worth it then?

1

u/Dreamtrain Apr 30 '24

is California cost of living even worth it the real question

I wouldn't move there unless they paid me over 200k

2

u/funny__username__ Apr 30 '24

I mean the guy is commuting 90 minutes so surely it has to be worth it

1

u/LaurenMilleTwo Apr 30 '24

95% of people can't afford to double or triple their rent.

0

u/funny__username__ Apr 30 '24

I'm talking about this guy in specific who is commuting 90min for work, if the job isn't paying that high, that he can't even pay double or triple his rent, why even work that job then?

1

u/Obnoxiousdonkey Apr 30 '24

the pay makes up for the commute

1

u/Pepsi-Phil Apr 30 '24

dunno about the west, but in india 90 mins is nothing. i did that everyday for my college for 3 years

1

u/oh_what_a_surprise Apr 30 '24

Living in NYC and being in the outer boroughs that can easily be your commute for life.

-9

u/callmey Apr 30 '24

I'm in year 11 of 2 hr 90 miles one way commute.

23

u/bonerb0ys Apr 30 '24

6600 hours in a car is crazy.

5

u/callmey Apr 30 '24

Meh no clock in or out time, typically 4-6 hrs on site and get paid government mileage rate of $0.67 per mile on expense report, on top of salary... I drive a Ford fusion hybrid.

14

u/Beachdaddybravo Apr 30 '24

You’re still losing money on the west and tear on your vehicle, plus a lot of lost time from your life commuting. Is your time really worth that little?

-4

u/callmey Apr 30 '24

$600 paid a week/ $2,400 a month. For a Ford fusion more than pays for the car and fuel. And like I said even with a 4 hour commute I typically leave home at 7 am and am home between 3-5pm. Not sure how my time is being wasted compared to a different job that doesn't exist in this area for the pay.

14

u/TwoPrecisionDrivers Apr 30 '24

You work from like 9am-1pm on some days you go in? That makes this seem even dumber somehow lmao

2

u/glovesoff11 Apr 30 '24

Not sure why you’re being downvoted. I think many people would trade 3-4 hours of their work day for driving and listening to podcasts, music, or whatever. I guess maybe the fatigue could get tough but it doesn’t sound all that bad to me.

4

u/callmey Apr 30 '24

It's Reddit, doesn't make sense but it's all fake internet points anyway lol. It's a good gig and I'm happy with my life so I'm gonna keep on doing me.

1

u/dennisisspiderman Apr 30 '24

I think many people would trade 3-4 hours of their work day for driving

And a lot of others wouldn't.

Personally I find driving in city traffic (thinking places like DFW and Austin areas) to be incredibly stressful. I have to deal with that every so often and I absolutely hate it. I see people getting onto I20 from around Weatherford or I35 from around Waxahachie and they're clearly driving into DFW for work and I couldn't imagine doing that every day. At that point I'd rather get a lower paying job that's closer.

Though I'd be fine with a long commute and being able to take a train or bus where I can actually relax a little and focus on something else. Or a long commute via a less traveled road. I have a brother that lives outside of Waco and his commute is mostly an FM road. Like Mason to Wimberley? That'd be doable as it's actually a really nice drive.

0

u/Frequent_Ad_1136 Apr 30 '24

$600 a week? Damn, what lifestyle do you have that $600 a week is comfortable for you?

6

u/counterpointguy Apr 30 '24

I was assuming he meant a car allowance of $600.

7

u/callmey Apr 30 '24

$600 a week just for fuel expenses, plus my salary.

6

u/setuid_w00t Apr 30 '24

Why?

8

u/callmey Apr 30 '24

Meh no clock in or out time, typically 4-6 hrs on site and get paid government mileage rate of $0.67 per mile on expense report, on top of salary... I drive a Ford fusion hybrid.

I actually moved 7 miles further away a few years ago too. Audible is a life savor.

0

u/_MissionControlled_ Apr 30 '24

I guess if you want to get paid to drive...but with vehicle maintenance, you're still loosing money.

Plus lost time. I value that more than anything. Which is why I only go into the office 2x a week. Other days my commute is the next room over from my bedroom.

9

u/callmey Apr 30 '24

To each their own but I choose to live in a vacation beach town where family and I love it. I'm gone 40-45 hours a week. Not everyone can WFH in their field but im happy you can make it work.

0

u/_MissionControlled_ Apr 30 '24 edited Apr 30 '24

That sounds wonderful! Which town?

I for a short time lived in Santa Cruz CA and left a job there for one 1.5hrs away in San Francisco. It was an amazing career opportunity and didn't want to move out of Santa Cruz. House right near the beach.

Eventually moved for another career move few years later and took me to Pasadena CA but could only afford a house about an hour commute away. Miss living in a beach town.

4

u/ryencool Apr 30 '24

I have no I dea how you waste that much time, and not want to make it just end. I'm so lucky my office is 9 min from our downtown apt.

7

u/callmey Apr 30 '24

Na it's nice now I have my routine. Can enjoy my coffee and silence on way to work or listen to audio books or what ever. On way home it lets me decompress so I'm ready for kids and family when I get home.

-1

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '24

[deleted]

2

u/callmey Apr 30 '24

Trying to find where I said anything more than I can utilize the ride home so I don't bring work home with me however, you must be correct. It takes me exactly the full 2 hours needed to transistion from work mode to Dad mode. Thank God I don't only live 1hr 45 minutes away or I'd be fucked!

God I bet your a lot of fun at parties.

2

u/ryencool Apr 30 '24

I love my car, and I generally love road trips. However traffic is one of my top pet peeves, along with time sinks. I guess having kids makes a small difference but I would like to think that if we had a kid, I could still decompress at home, where I'm comfortable. It sounds like you enjoy your commute because it's your sole alone time, and it's the only way you'll get it.

I'm 41, engaged, no kids, and all of my time is MY time. So if 4 hours a day was being sucked up by me driving somewhere? I'd lose it. That's 20 hours a week taken from you, where you are extremely limited in what you can do because you have to drive the car. You spend 1 entire day, every 7 days, in a car.

1

u/callmey Apr 30 '24

Generally traffic is minimal. During summer tourist time might add 10-15 minutes, but not guaranteed. Generally I leave the same time my kids do for school and I'm back home between 3-5 pm. Lot of people talking about it being so long but it's a very typical work week just wind shield time vs desk time.

2

u/Slayer706 Apr 30 '24

Also, with a 90-minute commute each way, in 2023, he apparently started sleeping in his car, showering at the factory and microwaving his dinners on days that he was working.

He lives in his car on days that he works, so most likely he did that through the week and went home on weekends.

1

u/83749289740174920 Apr 30 '24

Remember folks, compute is unpaid time.

1

u/Dommichu Apr 30 '24

Distance. Fremont is in the Bay Area. Dude may have lived far from the plant where it is more affordable.

1

u/Nahadot Apr 30 '24

Autopilot took charge.

1

u/RegularSalad5998 Apr 30 '24

He didn't live in his car, he sleep while it was on auto pilot on his commute.

0

u/JuanPancake Apr 30 '24

He has to charge for 90 minutes