TikTok Directs LA Employees to Use Personal Time Amid Wildfire Crisis
Devastating Wildfires Impact Los Angeles
Wildfires have wreaked havoc across the greater Los Angeles area, consuming over 45 square miles, destroying more than 1,300 structures, and forcing nearly 180,000 residents to evacuate as of Thursday. In the face of these challenges, TikTok has directed its LA-based employees either to work from home or utilize their personal or sick days if remote work is not feasible. This comes as the company's LA office remains closed due to power outages caused by severe wind conditions.
Office Situated Near Fire Zones
The continuing threat from the Palisades Fire, which is close enough to TikTok's office to make smoke visible from the windows, adds to the urgency of the situation. Although the Culver City office is not under mandatory evacuation orders, many employees' residences and the office itself are impacted by fires and windstorms, resulting in related logistical difficulties.
Challenges Faced by Employees
TikTok employees, residing in various parts of the broader LA region, are confronting power and Wi-Fi outages at their homes. Some may even be under personal evacuation orders, according to conversations with staff members.
In response to these extraordinary conditions, employees have been told to use their personal or sick time to account for any days they cannot work due to fire-related disruptions.
Communications and Policies
Messages from TikTok leadership informed staff that the LA office would be closed from January 8 to January 12. These days are classified as work-from-home days instead of days off entirely, unless individual team leaders decide otherwise.
An HR notice provided links to resources for those affected, including a Mental Wellbeing Portal and free mental health sessions via Lyra. Additionally, the company’s "PSSL" policy, which stands for paid sick and safe leave, was noted. This reflects TikTok's offerings of 10 paid sick or personal days per year, along with 15 days of PTO for employees hired after June.
Strict Return-to-Office Policy
TikTok's strict policy necessitates employees to report to the office at least three days a week. The days selected cannot be swapped, adding another layer of complexity for those affected by the wildfires. Employees reporting sickness without visiting the office must also use their PSSL time.
This week, employees unable to work from home due to power outages or evacuation orders are expected to use their personal or sick days, potentially depleting their leave for future personal emergencies. They may also borrow from the next year's leave or use PTO if PSSL hours are insufficient.
Administrative Procedures
Workers capable of telecommuting are required to change their work status to "natural disaster" in the "My RTO" portal to avoid penalties, preventing a deduction from their PSSL balance.
Regulatory Gaps and Communication Issues
The existing PSSL policy does not explicitly cover natural disaster scenarios, creating ambiguity during these wildfires. The policy primarily addresses health-related reasons or government-ordered closures, which complicates responses to the current crisis.
Affected employees have reported power outages at home, with some 4 million people in Southern California experiencing outages. Concerns about air quality and dependency on battery power complicate the remote work scenario.
TikTok's Response to Existing Challenges
Amid the growing challenges posed by the potential TikTok ban in the U.S., which may have affected employee morale, the company's insistence on maintaining regular operations has drawn criticism as insensitive. Some internal communications reflected this as a "business-as-usual" stance.
Staff were encouraged to contact the Employee Assistance Program or their HR representatives if evacuation became necessary. However, the emphasis on using personal days appears to contradict this support for employee well-being.
TikTok's representatives were sought for comment but did not respond ahead of publication.