Wrongful Termination

Two former SpaceX employees are suing the company, alleging safety concerns were ignored in favor of speed and cost, leading to their wrongful termination. One plaintiff, a former supervisor, claims he was fired after raising warnings about a potentially dangerous rocket recovery process. The lawsuit highlights instances of excessive work hours, unreported injuries, and a culture of prioritizing deadlines over safety. OSHA data reveals SpaceX’s Starbase facility has a higher injury rate than the aerospace manufacturing average. Another plaintiff alleges termination after workplace injuries.

A Shanghai court upheld the termination of an employee, Xu Xiaojiao, who publicly insulted her smoking boss on WeChat. Xu’s comments violated company policy against insulting behavior, as outlined in the employee handbook. The court ruled that her remarks exceeded mere uncivil language and rejected her claim for wrongful termination compensation, emphasizing the need for professional conduct, even online. The initial ruling to terminate Xu was validated.