China's TikTok is facing backlash over its policies towards employees in the Los Angeles area, which has been affected by the devastating wildfires that are ravaging the area.
tech crunch report TikTok employees based in Los Angeles as wildfires rage across the Los Angeles metropolitan area, burning more than 45 square miles, destroying more than 1,300 structures and forcing nearly 180,000 people to evacuate. says they are being told to use limited personal days off and sick leave when working remotely. It's impossible. The social media giant's Los Angeles office remains closed due to power outages caused by high winds, but the company is ensuring that its employees are properly provided during this natural disaster, even as many people are at risk of losing their homes to fire. support has not yet been provided. .
According to TikTok employee sources, the company's employees in the region are spread across LA and require some commute time to get to the office. Many of these employees' homes currently lack power, Wi-Fi, or both, making it difficult to work remotely. Some staff members may also have received evacuation orders. This has nothing to do with Chinese companies.
Despite the dire circumstances, TikTok's leadership has notified staff in Los Angeles that any day the office is closed will be considered a work-from-home day, unless individual team leaders decide otherwise. Employees who are unable to work from home due to power outages or Wi-Fi outages, or who have been ordered to evacuate, are being asked to use valuable personal and sick time as vacation days.
TikTok's Los Angeles employees will receive 15 days of paid time off (PTO) in addition to 10 days of paid sick leave (PSSL) per year if hired before June. Days like these are invaluable, as the company's strict return-to-office policy requires employees to work in the office at least three days a week. If an employee uses up their PSSL hours, they must borrow from next year's allocation or use PTO hours instead.
The company's PSSL policy document does not specifically state that the time can be used for natural disasters such as the wildfires currently affecting the region. Instead, the employee may have a physical or mental health condition, care for a family member with a health condition, or have their office closed by a public official due to a public health emergency involving an infectious disease or exposure to a biological toxin. The outline stipulates that the time can be used in various cases. , or hazardous materials.
Some internal messages reviewed by TechCrunch reveal that TikTok's response to the disaster was somewhat tone-deaf, with a “business as usual” approach despite the scale of the emergency. For example, a prospect contacted an unauthorized employee and asked for an update on the status of the job.
While TikTok leaders have stressed that employees should prioritize their safety and well-being, it's this sentiment that prompts them to worry about how they'll use their personal days if they can't work from home. seems to be contradictory. The company instructed employees to contact their Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or human resources representative if they are directed to evacuate.
Following the publication of the TechCrunch article, TikTok issued a statement saying it must have been a misunderstanding instructing LA employees to use their personal time if they can't work from home due to wildfires, power outages, or internet issues. he claimed. However, screenshots of TikTok HR communications to staff seen by TechCrunch contradict these claims.
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Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News, covering free speech and online censorship issues.
