It surprises me that a company as reliant on good will as Tesla is would do this.

Literally every part of Tesla's business is relying on good will. Employees working hard for substandard wages. Customers buying luxury vehicles and sticking down deposits years in advance. Politicians creating subsidies and buying grid scale batteries. Etc.

It's unlikely that this move (cutting the bonuses of everyone laid off) has saved Tesla more money than this one post hitting hacker news cost them.