Stellantis employees have reportedly been experiencing strange symptoms at the company’s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, after returning to the office following a policy change that mandates them to work from the office for at least five days a week.
The health scare pointed to a potential problem at the workplace related to mold or polluted indoor air. However, despite having necessary checks conducted, the root cause of the problem has not been identified officially.
According to a report by Jalopnik, Stellantis employees reported a range of symptoms such as “nose bleeds, migraines, vomiting, skin issues, digestive issues, coughing and tiredness.”
Notably, employees have reported seeing “black dust, mice, rats, a general mustiness and several flooding incidents at the facility.”
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration Conducted Safety Checks
While potential health issues in workplaces are not a rare occurrence, the return of Stellantis employees to the company’s headquarters after a policy change might have highlighted an existing problem.
Earlier, the company supported a flexible work-from-home policy, which changed last year, requiring employees to be in the office for at least three days a week.
In January 2026, Stellantis mandated a policy requiring employees to work from the office for five days a week, a rule that fully came into effect on March 30.
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) inspected the 15-story tower facility in February based on an employee complaint, which alleged that “employees continue complaining about a multitude of illnesses and strange symptoms and are being forced to work from the building every day despite their complaints and evidence showing presence of mold, and medical proof they are sick.”
Stellantis told MIOSHA that before the employees returned, it sought to have the facility cleaned and flushed before upgrading air filtration systems. The company reportedly tested air quality and mold levels. Company spokesperson Jodi Tinson said in a statement:
“Stellantis continually prioritizes the health, safety and well‑being of our employees. As part of our standard practice, we regularly assess our workplaces to ensure they meet or exceed safety and environmental standards. Recent assessments within the office areas confirmed a safe working environment. Ongoing housekeeping enhancements and preventive maintenance are in place to support employee comfort and well‑being.”
Is Mold the Real Culprit?
According to the Jalopnik report, company representatives told regulators that the health issues started as soon as the employees began working from the office. The problem became more severe when they were asked to work from the office for five days.
While Stellantis told its employees that air quality tests were satisfactory across the facility, MIOSHA inspectors wrote in their report that they had found “slightly elevated” mold spore counts when compared to the outdoor samples. However, the report stated that the levels “generally were considered acceptable for indoor air quality.”
MIOSHA also stated in its report that it did not find leaks or signs of moisture in the facility that would suggest sources of indoor mold growth. Stellantis stated that the “slightly elevated” mold spore counts could be related to the indoor plants throughout its facility.
MIOSHA concluded that it did not have the standard or published limits that dictate safe levels of mold exposure, and concluded its investigation in early April.
Given the uncertainty around permissible levels of mold spore counts, Stellantis could try to address the mold problem, even though it is not significant, just to see if the symptoms being experienced by employees stop altogether. That would be one way of finding out.