Twitter employees beg for toilet paper as Musk cuts costs
3 Min Read
Elon Musk has continually cut costs since taking over Twitter.
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Twitter logo is seen on a sign on the exterior of Twitter headquarters in San Francisco, California, on Oct. 28, 2022. (Getty Images)
Elon Musk's drastic cost-cutting at Twitter has resulted in some unexpected consequences for employees, such as stinky bathrooms and a lack of toilet paper.
Staff at Twitter's office in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood have been feeling the effects of the billionaire's decision not to renegotiate the contracts of facilities maintenance workers who handled in-office supplies and cleaning over the last three days.
Two people familiar with the stinky situation, and messages seen by Business Insider, said that odors from unclean bathrooms and several clogged toilets are creeping into hallways and workspaces.
According to these people, who asked not to be identified because they were discussing noxious topics, there is no toilet paper in the office. Meanwhile, Musk still requires nearly everyone to work five days a week in the office.
Read next: Musk agrees to step down as Twitter CEO if he finds 'fool' to replace
Employees have made several requests on Slack and via email for someone at the company to address the deteriorating bathroom situation, according to people familiar with the situation. No one had received a response as of Thursday afternoon. A Twitter spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
In recent weeks, Musk has cut Twitter expenses more than many employees expected, ostensibly to save the company. Several health and wellness benefits have been reduced or eliminated, free food and office snacks are limited, and office space in San Francisco is still used as sleeping quarters and shower space to reduce hotel costs, while other offices are closed.
According to three people familiar with the situation, one of Twitter's three main data servers in the United States was abruptly shut down last week to save money.
One employee in the New York office stated that the lack of basic office necessities such as toilet paper was "just bad," adding to the company's already low morale.
Another employee admitted that if the company does not provide toilet paper by Thursday, employees will be forced to bring their own rolls from home, as colleagues briefly had to do at Twitter's San Francisco headquarters, according to a recent New York Times report.
Read next: First employees, now contract workers; Twitter layoffs continue
Another issue that has arisen as a result of Musk's cost-cutting efforts is the lack of an internal IT support team. In Musk's first two months as CEO, nearly all of the employees who would assist colleagues with computer and software issues were either laid off, fired, or resigned.
The remaining employees have little to no recourse for common issues ranging from broken computer chargers to being locked out of internal systems required to do their jobs, according to two people familiar with the situation.
