Last week, news broke that Tesla had laid off over 14,000 employees, constituting a significant 10% reduction in its workforce. Now, one former Tesla employee’s story of dismissal on LinkedIn is capturing widespread online attention offering a glimpse into the human cost of such large-scale corporate decisions.

Nico Murillo started working at Tesla’s Fremont, California, plant in 2019, initially as a production associate, but quickly began climbing the corporate ladder, as detailed in his LinkedIn bio. In 2020, he was promoted to the position of Lead Production Associate, and in 2021, he became a Production Supervisor. However, last week, he was let go.

Murillo’s story begins on Monday, April 15, at 4:30 a.m., as he opened his laptop to check emails. Strangely, he discovered that his account had been deactivated but assumed it was an IT bug and continued with his morning routine.

By 5:00 a.m., he was on his way to work, a 90-minute drive away. Murillo mentioned that during his commute, he usually checks his email while his vehicle is in Autopilot. However, on this day, he received a devastating message stating that his position had been eliminated.

Murillo texted his manager, and was told that “everyone got it, we’ll get more info later.” By 5:50 a.m., he was trying to enter the factory, but was turned away, and a security guard took his security badge. He returned to his car and sat in disbelief.

He Slept In His Car And Showered In The Factory

While all layoff stories are sad, Murillo’s story is garnering a lot of attention, which may have to do with his unwavering dedication to Tesla. After laying out the timeline of his day, the Production Supervisor provided the world with an example of his remarkable commitment to work.

“At one point in 2023 I was even sacrificing sleeping in my car on work days just to avoid commuting to work,” wrote Murillo. “Showered at the factory and slept in the parking lot. Microwaved dinner in the break room.”

The post has received an outpouring of sympathy on LinkedIn, and another former Tesla employee shared a similar experience of giving it his all for the company, just to be let go, suggesting that Murillo’s story is anything but unique.

Tesla lay off story

4/15 Monday

4:30am: Opened my laptop, account was de activated. Thought it was just another IT problem, so didn’t think anything of it.

5:00am I usually check my emails while on my autopilot commute to work (1hr 30min drive) Email read: “Unfortunately as a result, your position has been eliminated by this restructuring.”

5:05am Texted my manager, but he said “everyone got it, we’ll get more info later”

5:50am Tried to badge in, and the security guard took my badge and told me I was laid off

6:00am Sat in my car in disbelief.

Tesla timeline: 07/22/2019 - 04/15/2024

About 5 years at Tesla. Half a decade!

At one point in 2023 I was even sacrificing sleeping in my car on work days just to avoid commuting to work. Showered at the factory and slept in the parking lot. Microwaved dinner in the break room.

Sacrificed a lot for the company. But this is just a small part of a chapter that is ending, and there’s a whole book waiting to be written. I’m only 29 years old and have a lot more career time in me.

I went from Production Associate, to Lead Production Associate, to being a Production Supervisor. Starting from the very bottom and worked my way up. Learned a lot of adapting to the ever-changing environment, to working with less but getting more done.

In the middle of my career, when I was a lead, I met the most funny and humble supervisor named Louie Afusia. Louie taught me about delegating, following up, and finishing through. He used to tell me: “listen to the people, not against them.” I even played semi pro football with him one Spring season. But he taught me a lot about leadership, and i’m glad to have met him in my career at Tesla. He was this huge Somoan USO, that had a good heart.

Louie passed away in 02/2023. He’s gone, but not forgotten.

How you make something last forever is you inspire the next generation and then the next. Always leave the place better than you found it.

One thing Tony Stark (Ironman) said in the movie Avengers Endgame:

“Part of the journey is the end”