Factory manager André Thierig announced at Hannover Messe that sick leave at Tesla's Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg has dropped below 5 percent. Following a reported loss of 1,700 workers earlier this year—reducing headcount to 10,703 from 12,415 in 2024—the plant now plans to hire 1,000 new staff amid aggressive efficiency measures.
At the Hannover Messe trade fair, André Thierig, factory manager at Tesla's Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in Grünheide, revealed that sick leave has fallen below 5 percent. "I believe many companies would be envious if they had achieved that," he said.
Sick leave had been a persistent challenge. In July 2023, Thierig criticized workers at a staff meeting for failing to "get out of bed." By August 2024, rates reached 17 percent, leading Thierig and HR chief Erik Demmler to make unannounced home visits to absent employees.
To foster loyalty and productivity, Tesla rolled out perks including an employee stock program, on-site gym, barbershop, and a Tesla rental option for €25 per day. Thierig highlighted a transformed atmosphere, with workers arriving in work clothes and embracing the "new spirit."
These improvements follow a workforce reduction of about 1,700 employees, reported in January by Handelsblatt based on works council data, despite prior denials of cuts. Now, with enhanced efficiency, the plant is poised to add 1,000 new hires, signaling recovery amid ongoing operational pressures.
