Federal Employee Criticizes Elon Musk’s Email, Calls It Confusing and Potentially Unlawful
A federal employee has taken to social media to express frustration over an email reportedly sent under Elon Musk’s directive, complaining about unclear instructions, a lack of proper chain of command, and questionable legality.
What Was in the Email?
The employee shared that on a Saturday, they received an email from HR at opm.gov (Office of Personnel Management) that stated:
📌 “Please reply to this email with approximately five bullets of what you accomplished last week and cc your manager. Please do not send any classified information. Deadline is this Monday at 11:59 p.m.”
Additionally, Musk allegedly tweeted that failure to respond by the deadline would be considered a resignation—but the email itself did not explicitly state termination as a consequence.
Employee’s Complaints:
🔹 Chain of Command Ignored: The employee argues that government workers report to their direct supervisors, not OPM or external executives.
🔹 Unclear Deadline: The email vaguely states “Monday” without a specific date, leaving room for confusion.
🔹 Weekend Emails & Expectations: The email was sent on a Saturday, with an expectation for a response by Monday night—without extra compensation for weekend work.
🔹 Lack of Clear Consequences: Nowhere in the email does it explicitly say noncompliance leads to termination, which contradicts Musk’s public claims.
Employee’s Response: Reporting as Phishing
The federal worker, believing the email was an overreach of authority, has decided to report it as a phishing attempt until their direct manager provides clarification.
“These people think they can operate outside the law, outside employment law, and outside standard judicial processes,” the employee stated. “I don’t even have to open the email.”
Public Reaction: Supporters vs. Critics
💬 Supporters of the employee argue that Musk’s demands are unrealistic and demonstrate a lack of understanding of government structure. They believe the email violates standard labor practices and could even be legally questionable.
💬 Critics argue that government employees should be held accountable for their productivity and that resistance to basic reporting expectations is part of a larger culture of inefficiency in federal agencies.
What’s Next?
While it remains unclear how widespread this issue is, legal experts suggest that if federal employees are penalized for failing to comply with an email that lacks a formal directive, it could lead to legal challenges.
🚨 What do you think? Was this email a reasonable request, or is Musk overstepping his authority? Let us know your thoughts below! 👇
