**Tesla Defends Visiting Sick Employees at Home Amid Rising Absences at German Factory**

The leadership at Tesla's Gigafactory in Germany has defended their controversial approach of visiting employees at home while they are on sick leave. André Thierig, the senior director of Tesla's plant near Berlin, has rebutted accusations that the practice was invasive, suggesting that some employees were exploiting Germany's sick-leave policies.

Reports from local media revealed that managers had personally called on the homes of some employees during their sick leave, leading to confrontational encounters where doors were slammed, and police were threatened, according to the German newspaper Handelsblatt. Thierig, however, defended the visits, asserting that such actions were not uncommon in Germany. He mentioned that Tesla executives aimed to appeal to the work ethic of their workers by these check-ins.

Thierig also pointed out a pattern of increased sick leave on Fridays, arguing that this did not reflect poor working conditions, as these remained consistent across all days and shifts. Instead, he insinuated that this might indicate some level of exploitation of the German social system by employees.

More troubling statistics were shared by the plant's human-resources manager, who noted a significant rise in absenteeism at Tesla's German factory. In August, the sick-leave rate soared to 17%, sharply contrasting with the 2023 average for the German automotive industry, which was about three times lower. This factory, which employs around 12,000 people, is currently Tesla’s sole manufacturing facility in Europe.

The concerning absentee rates have not gone unnoticed by Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk. In response to the reports, Musk commented on X that he would investigate the issue. Known for promoting a "hardcore" work culture, Musk's leadership has previously seen Tesla employees working long hours, sometimes even sleeping on the production line or in their cars to meet stringent deadlines.

Tesla has not yet issued an official comment in light of these recent reports.