TikTok’s US workers accused of racism, other discriminatory behaviour by former employees

TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is facing allegations of racism and retaliation from former African-American employees in a complaint filed with US civil rights authorities. These ex-employees claim that ByteDance terminated their employment as a response to their outspoken objections against discrimination within the company. One woman, who worked in sales at ByteDance, alleges that she was directed to pursue low-quality leads instead of the more promising ones she had cultivated herself. She also states that several supervisors, including a vice president, referred to her using derogatory language. A man who was part of TikTok’s advertising team claims that he was unfairly assigned a lower job level and salary compared to White colleagues with equivalent qualifications. Additionally, he states that he was denied recognition for his accomplishments and ideas. The complaint, submitted to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which enforces federal anti-discrimination laws, highlights ongoing concerns within the technology industry regarding hiring practices and the treatment of women and underrepresented minorities. This issue comes at a critical time for ByteDance, as there have been efforts to ban TikTok in the US over fears that it could potentially allow the Chinese government to access American data without consent. In response to the complaint, a TikTok spokesperson stated that the company takes employee concerns seriously and has robust policies in place to prevent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace. The spokesperson also emphasized TikTok’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The former ByteDance employees, Nnete Matima and Joel Carter, argue that their experience of facing repercussions for addressing prejudice reflects a broader systemic issue within Silicon Valley and large American companies. They state that many workers of colour find themselves in a dilemma where they must choose between ignoring discrimination and allowing biased supervisors to hinder their careers or reporting discrimination and facing retaliation that often leads to termination. In 2020, TikTok pledged to create a supportive environment for the Black community following concerns raised by Black TikTok creators. However, Matima and Carter claim that their experiences at the company did not align with these public commitments. They state that they were the only Black employees in their respective roles for most of their tenure and that after filing internal complaints, the company failed to adequately investigate their claims and ultimately terminated their employment. The complaint asserts that ByteDance has shown zero tolerance for dissent within its ranks and calls for a serious examination of discrimination complaints rather than engaging in a witch hunt against those who voice concerns. Complaints lodged with the EEOC undergo investigation by its staff. Following the investigation, the agency can dismiss the claims, seek a settlement, file a lawsuit against the accused company, or grant the plaintiffs permission to file their own lawsuit. One of the complainants, Nnete Matima, stated in an interview that she had exhausted all avenues within the company to address her complaints but found that the more she spoke up for herself, the worse she was treated. She hopes that her case will highlight the need for equitable treatment of people of colour and that they will not accept discriminatory behaviour.