US billionaire Elon Musk carried out a worldwide mass cull of Twitter staff on Friday days after his £38billion takeover.
An estimated 3,700 employees across the globe, half of its workforce, were expected to lose their jobs – with most finding out via email.
Some British staff woke to find their laptops “remotely wiped” and their access to company systems blocked.
A memo told them to go home if they were heading into work as their passes would not work.
Furious union bosses have called on the Government to show Musk, the world’s richest man, “no one is above the law”.
Tech workers’ union Prospect compared it to the mass firing of staff by ferry giant P&O this year. General secretary Mike Clancy said: “Twitter is treating its people appallingly.”
He branded the company “a digital P&O” and said “Big Tech barons” must still comply with employment laws.
Twitter sent a memo on Thursday night informing staff they would be receiving emails the following day telling them whether their jobs were safe.
But many knew the writing was on the wall before then after finding themselves blocked from accessing emails.
Chris Younie tweeted: “Well this isn’t looking promising. Can’t log into emails. Mac won’t turn on. But so grateful this is happening at 3am. Really appreciate the thoughtfulness on the timing front.”
Simon Balmain posted: “Everyone got an email saying there was going to be a large reduction in headcount. Then around an hour later, folks started getting their laptops remotely wiped and access to Slack and Gmail revoked.”
UK staff in Twitter’s London and Manchester offices began receiving emails which said its offices were closed “to help ensure the safety of each employee as well as Twitter systems and customer data”.
“If you are in an office or on your way to an office, please return home,” the company said in its internal memo.
Former employees in the US have already sued Twitter over the sackings.
Under Californian law, if more than 50 people are being laid off at the same time they need a 60-day notice period.
Musk completed his Twitter takeover last week, posting: “The bird is freed”.
