Court Pauses Lawsuit Alleging Musk Forced Out Disabled Workers

X Faces Lawsuits Amid Tumultuous Changes Following Elon Musk’s Takeover

Following Elon Musk’s $44 billion acquisition, Twitter, now known as X, has experienced major transitions. These include extensive layoffs and a pullback from remote work, leading to legal battles with former staff. One prominent case involved a lawsuit claiming discrimination against disabled workers due to the cessation of telecommuting. A California judge recently dismissed this suit.

Dmitry Borodaenko, a former engineering manager and cancer survivor, initiated the lawsuit. He contended that his termination for refusing to return to the office during the COVID-19 pandemic was unjust. However, Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin ruled that Borodaenko’s evidence was insufficient to prove that the company’s return-to-office policy specifically disadvantaged disabled employees. The judge did allow him four weeks to revise and resubmit the lawsuit.

X’s Return-to-Office Policy Sparks Controversy

The lawsuit claimed that X breached federal laws mandating accommodations for disabled employees. Musk had strongly indicated in a November 2022 memo that employees should expect to work “long hours at high intensity” or leave the firm. He also tweeted that remote work was “morally wrong.”

Judge Martinez-Olguin noted that prohibiting remote work doesn’t inherently equate to discrimination against disabled employees. She pointed out that Borodaenko’s argument relied too heavily on the assumption that all disabled workers required remote work as an accommodation.

Multiple Lawsuits Against X Post-Acquisition

The lawsuit from Borodaenko is just one of several filed by former employees since Musk’s takeover and the ensuing layoffs. Other cases allege improper notice before terminations, lack of severance pay, and discrimination against women and older employees. X has steadfastly denied any misconduct.

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