San Francisco officials are investigating if Elon Musk’s ‘Twitter Hotel’ plan broke laws

Advertisement

Advertise with us

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco officials are investigating Twitter after six former employees allege that owner Elon Musk's leadership team broke laws by turning the company's headquarters into a “Twitter Hotel” for workers who were pushed to stay up late to transform the social media platform.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/05/2023 (1228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco officials are investigating Twitter after six former employees allege that owner Elon Musk’s leadership team broke laws by turning the company’s headquarters into a “Twitter Hotel” for workers who were pushed to stay up late to transform the social media platform.

The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection said Friday that it has opened a new complaint and will be conducting an investigation into the new allegations.

The San Francisco Chronicle earlier reported on the city’s latest investigation into the company that Musk took over late last year.

FILE - A sign at Twitter headquarters is shown in San Francisco, Dec. 8, 2022. San Francisco officials are investigating Twitter after six former employees allege that owner Elon Musk's leadership team broke laws in turning the company's headquarters into a “Twitter Hotel” for workers being pushed to stay up late to transform the social media platform. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
FILE - A sign at Twitter headquarters is shown in San Francisco, Dec. 8, 2022. San Francisco officials are investigating Twitter after six former employees allege that owner Elon Musk's leadership team broke laws in turning the company's headquarters into a “Twitter Hotel” for workers being pushed to stay up late to transform the social media platform. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

That’s after the ex-employees, including a former vice president of real estate, alleged in a lawsuit filed in a federal court in Delaware that Twitter didn’t pay them promised severance. Twitter is seeking to have the case dismissed.

The ex-workers also allege that Musk’s team ordered numerous changes to the company’s headquarters in a 1930s Art Deco building in downtown San Francisco that violated building codes. Those changes included disabling lights and adding locks that wouldn’t open during an emergency, according to the lawsuit.

One of the plaintiffs is Tracy Hawkins, Twitter’s former vice president of real estate and workplace, who was responsible for managing the company’s physical offices and leases. The lawsuit says Hawkins wasn’t initially opposed to Musk’s takeover but “was forced to resign when Elon Musk and his transition team insisted that she violate her professional ethics by causing Twitter to intentionally breach its leases and other contracts.” The lawsuit claims Musk refused to pay rent on the building.

This is not the first time San Francisco officials have tussled with Musk, who bought Twitter for $44 billion in October and gutted much of its workforce as he converted a part of the company’s headquarters into bedrooms.

Earlier this year, San Francisco building inspectors gave Twitter’s construction contractor two weeks to submit a corrected building use permit if the company wanted to keep using two conference rooms as bedrooms.

The city launched an investigation in December after Forbes reported on the beds, prompting Musk to lash out at San Francisco Mayor London Breed, even though there is no evidence she was involved in the inspection.

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Is another goalie on Jets’ wish list?

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Is another goalie on Jets’ wish list?

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Yesterday at 6:59 PM CDT

Kevin Cheveldayoff and company are down to the short strokes.

With the opening-day roster due on Monday afternoon, the Winnipeg Jets took steps on the weekend to get down to the final number.

As it stood on Sunday, the Jets were down to 24 healthy players in training camp after centre Danny Zhilkin and defenceman Henry Thrun were placed on waivers.

With a maximum of 23 spots available, the only things left to determine are whether the Jets are interested in claiming a more experienced goalie to serve as the backup to Stuart Skinner and if centre Brayden Yager will break camp with the big club.

Read
Yesterday at 6:59 PM CDT

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read Preview

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

MOON ALERT: Avoid shopping or important decisions from 4:30 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. After that, the moon moves from Aries into Taurus.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Financial discussions, especially about speculation, sports or dealing with your kids, might be confrontational. However, the bigger news is that a partner, spouse or close friend might surprise you by saying or doing something you least expect. Stay tuned.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Read
2:00 AM CDT

Signs of local neo-Nazi recruiting efforts spark concern

Conrad Sweatman 7 minute read Preview

Signs of local neo-Nazi recruiting efforts spark concern

Conrad Sweatman 7 minute read Saturday, Sep. 26, 2026

A far-right canvassing push in Manitoba this month is raising concerns among Winnipeg residents.

Stickers promoting Nationalist-13, a men’s-only neo-Nazi group also known as NS-13 based primarily in Hamilton, Ont., have appeared in Winnipeg and parts of southern Manitoba. The stickers bear national socialist branding and messages such as “White Man, Fight Back” and “White Community, Political Action, Training and Fitness.”

Winnipeg writer Jess Woolford recently encountered an NS-13 poster on Pembina Highway.

“It was appalling,” Woolford said. “It has the Nazi death heads covering people’s faces. It was pretty disturbing to come across this … I just didn’t expect to see it so blatantly displayed in my neighbourhood.”

Read
Saturday, Sep. 26, 2026

Jets place two on waivers

1 minute read Updated: 9:58 AM CDT

The Winnipeg Jets are one step closer to being down to numbers.

On Sunday afternoon, centre Danny Zhilkin and defenceman Henry Thrun were placed on waivers.

That decision would suggest  defenceman Tyrel Bauer is in line to break camp with the NHL club for the first time in his career.

The final roster, with a maximum of 23 players, must be submitted on Monday afternoon.

Museum warehouse holds the history of electrical power in Manitoba

Sheldon Birnie 8 minute read Preview

Museum warehouse holds the history of electrical power in Manitoba

Sheldon Birnie 8 minute read 6:00 AM CDT

The work it takes to bring any endeavour to light is rarely, if ever, seen by those who look upon the final result — be that a creative work such as a feature film or a museum display.

Since 2001, the Manitoba Electrical Museum and Education Centre, located at 680 Harrow St., has provided thousands of visitors with a century’s worth of history on electrical power in Manitoba.

“Everyone who comes in here is amazed at how much we can pack into such a small space,” says executive director Beryth Strong, who took on the role last November.

The museum is open to the public Tuesday to Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. and hosts large groups of students throughout the school year. While the museum itself boasts numerous displays featuring approximately 220 electrical artifacts, including household appliances, computers, telephones, technical gear and much more, along with a collection of nearly 20,000 photos documenting major electrical construction projects, its warehouse just south of McGillivray Boulevard houses thousands more unique items.

Read
6:00 AM CDT

Respectful separation: an obvious oxymoron

Judy Waytiuk 6 minute read Preview

Respectful separation: an obvious oxymoron

Judy Waytiuk 6 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

“We want a fair and respectful relationship with Canada,” Alberta separatist leader Keith Wilson told the CBC commentator. He paused. Briefly. “On our terms.”

Read
2:00 AM CDT