Photo by Craig Adderley: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cars-parked-in-front-of-company-building-2449452/
Tesla’s market-leading innovations are often matched by stories of its demanding workplace culture. A Financial Times report this week highlighted a wave of senior departures from the company, with burnout and a relentless “24/7 campaign-style” ethos among the key reasons cited by insiders.
In the FT article, former employees described Elon Musk as “a difficult leader” to work for, with staff turnover extending across several teams – from artificial intelligence to public affairs. The story may be set in Silicon Valley, but its lessons resonate closer to home.
Workplace culture is increasingly recognised as a driver of wellbeing and business outcomes. While most UK employers may not share Tesla’s scale or profile, they face similar risks if workplace wellbeing is sidelined. Burnout, stress and poor management behaviours are among the leading causes of staff turnover in Britain, with recruitment and retention costs continuing to rise.
Unions and workplace groups are already sounding the alarm. Bectu’s recent survey found one in three theatre workers had faced abuse from audiences in the past year, while the British Safety Council has warned that wellbeing provision across UK regions remains patchy and unequal. Financial strain also plays a role: one in five UK employees has taken time off due to money worries, according to the Building Societies Association.
Occupational health experts argue that culture must be seen as part of an organisation’s infrastructure, not an add-on. Without it, employers risk higher sickness absence, presenteeism, and reputational harm.
“Tesla shows what happens when the drive for innovation overwhelms basic human needs. You can’t build sustainable performance on burnout. The cost will always show up in morale, productivity, and retention.”
Said Rachel Cox from Full Fusion HR
The takeaway for UK leaders is clear: investing in wellbeing and culture is not a luxury. It’s a prerequisite for long-term performance, whether you’re running a tech start-up, a theatre, or a manufacturing plant.
Financial hope collapses as UK workers cut back on essentials, report warns
Financial optimism has collapsed worldwide, with UK workers among those feeling the sharpest effects of cost-of-living pressures, according to new research.
The Global Financial Wellbeing Report 2025 from financial education platform, Nudge, found that just 29 per cent of people globally feel hopeful about their financial situation – a steep fall from 60 per cent in 2024. That brings sentiment close to the lows seen during the pandemic.
In the UK, the report highlights familiar pressures. Food, energy and housing costs continue to dominate employee concerns, outpacing issues like tax and healthcare. Across Europe, food costs are the top worry, but the UK is one of the few countries where energy comes first.
