A few days ago, at Genbeta, we published a report analyzing how Elon Musk is extending his company management practices into the public administration of the United States — and even beyond. All of this seems to stem from his infamous DOGE department.
Through anonymous testimonies, we uncovered that workers from U.S. entities around the world have been receiving “bombshell” emails late at night, with threats of layoffs and an overwhelming sense of tension. While countries outside the U.S. have their own labor laws — often more protective than those in America — this hasn’t stopped the ripple effect of Musk’s management style from spreading globally.
A Billionaire “Nobody Voted For” Running U.S. Administration: Officials Accuse Elon Musk of Threats and “Terror”
Today, we have the story of a highly controversial email that made its way to Italy. Italian workers at the U.S. Air Force base in Aviano, in the north of the country, also received this email demanding a weekly list of their top five accomplishments — under the threat of immediate dismissal if they failed to comply.
We previously discussed this email and how certain agencies like the FBI, the Pentagon, and NASA are not obligated to follow Musk’s directives, as doing so could expose classified information. Italian employees, however, are protected by their country’s labor laws — which, like most European regulations, provide far more worker protections than those in the U.S. Musk learned this the hard way when he tried to lay off almost the entire Twitter workforce.
Italy vs. Musk
As reported by Xataka, this threatening email clashed head-on with Italian labor laws, which guarantee workers’ rights and protections. Italian unions, the government, and public opinion didn’t stay silent — nor did they bow to Musk’s rules the way it often happens in the U.S., where mass layoffs sometimes even garner public support.
Europe’s growing frustration with Elon Musk is evident, and Tesla is feeling the heat: its sales have plummeted by up to 75%.
The email was intended for employees in Washington but was mistakenly sent to Italian workers — a global error that added to the confusion. It’s crucial to remember that while international workers are protected by their own countries’ laws — not Musk’s whims or even those supported by former President Donald Trump — the reality is that this creates a tense and anxious work environment, as revealed by the firsthand accounts we gathered.
In Europe, There Are Laws Musk Can’t Change
According to The New York Times, this email, received by all Italian employees at the Aviano base, set the stage for a striking cultural clash. “We are in Italy,” said Roberto Del Savio, a union representative and base employee, emphasizing that European laws stand firm, regardless of Musk’s ambitions.
The Aviano base employs 700 Italian staff responsible for cooking, cleaning, logistics, and keeping the facility running smoothly. In total, around 4,000 Italian civilian employees work across bases serving approximately 15,000 U.S. soldiers stationed in Italy.
These jobs, rooted in Italian labor traditions, are heavily unionized and protected by local laws. Yet, the employees’ salaries come from the U.S. government. “Our system is based on democracy, safeguards, and the protections offered by contracts that must be respected,” said Pierpaolo Bombardieri, general secretary of the Italian union Uil.
Musk Doesn’t Fit in Europe
Musk’s threats seem to be met with mockery in Europe. While Tesla’s sales nosedive and protests erupt at his European factories over poor labor conditions, social media has also turned his management style into a joke.
TikTok creator Alberico Di Pasquale recorded a viral video pretending to be an Italian employee with a permanent contract responding to Musk’s email. His “weekly accomplishments” list went viral:
“No. 1: I show up to work. No. 2: I clock in. No. 3: I have breakfast. No. 4: I argue with colleagues about who will get coffee. No. 5: I go get the coffee. I repeat steps 4 and 5 five times. No. 6: I pay my bills and do some shopping. No. 7: I clock out.”
In Genbeta | Elon Musk owns five companies, ran in an election, and also has an obsession with Diablo 4 to break a record.
The news article “Elon Musk is firing thousands of public servants through emails and threats. He clashed with Italy, and there’s nothing he can do about it” was originally published on Genbeta by Bárbara Bécares.
