In recent developments, video-sharing giant TikTok, owned by Chinese tech firm ByteDance, finds itself at the center of a federal class action complaint.
Two former Black employees, Nnete Matima and Joël Carter, allege racial discrimination during their tenure at the company, which boasts over 150 million U.S. users. Both claim that their treatment was inferior to their white counterparts, culminating in their dismissal after raising concerns with the human resources department.
Matima, a former business development representative, recounts a distressing experience after voicing out against the alleged discrimination. She claims that not only was she met with retaliatory behavior, but she was also derogatorily referred to as a ‘Black Snake’ by her managers before being terminated.
Similarly, Carter, who once served as a policy manager at TikTok, remarked on the irony between the company’s mission statement and the environment he experienced. While TikTok promotes creativity and joy, Carter suggests the workplace atmosphere is riddled with fear, alleging that the company’s growth-centric approach sometimes overlooks the rights and well-being of its employees.
The TikTok discrimination complaint highlights that both Matima and Carter first sought resolution through internal channels, including TikTok’s HR department, before resorting to legal means. Their attorney, Peter Romer-Friedman, emphasizes the alarming frequency of employer retaliation following internal complaints about discrimination. He suggests such acts deter other employees from standing up for their rights, fearing adverse consequences.
In response, a TikTok spokesperson asserted the company’s commitment to fostering diversity, citing policies against workplace discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The spokesperson reiterated TikTok’s dedication to promoting inclusion and handling employee grievances responsibly.
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