It’s a brutal way to let people go, especially in the current climate and at this time of year. But I suspect (and hope), the severance packages will reflect that. I work in investment banking, which is similar - albeit when I went through my own redundancy, I was sat at my desk, received a call asking me to go to up to another floor immediately.
I did get a face to face, but was then immediately escorted out of the building, not even allowed to return to my desk to collect my bag (with my phone, house keys, travel pass, purse etc). It was unexpected and a huge shock, but they did give me details of my pay off then and there. I took one look at the number, and said ‘OK, fair enough’ and off I went…..(to get spectacularly drunk with colleagues who had also been let go).
Once I’d calmed down (and sobered up) I did speak to a solicitor, as I had to as part of agreement, who agreed I had a potential tribunal case (I was part time), but the amount they were offering was well above statutory and I’d be unlikely to be awarded much more - with all the expense and stress of a tribunal. Elon might be a bit eccentric, but I’ll bet he’s been well advised on what he can/can’t do today in legal terms. Even if he has morally behaved like an arse.