TikTok’s Wildfire Response: LA Employees Told to Use Sick Days Amid Crisis
Wildfires Disrupt Work for TikTok’s LA Staff
As wildfires rage across Los Angeles—burning over 45 square miles, destroying 1,300+ structures, and forcing 180,000 evacuations—TikTok’s LA-based employees face an additional challenge: the company is requiring them to either work remotely or use personal/sick days if unable to do so.
Office Closure and Employee Challenges
- TikTok’s Culver City office remains closed due to power outages from high winds
- Smoke from the nearby Palisades Fire is visible from the office
- Many employees report power/Wi-Fi outages at home, with some potentially under evacuation orders
TikTok’s Policy During the Crisis
Internal communications reveal:
- Office closure extended through January 12 as “Work From Home” days
- Employees unable to work remotely must use Paid Sick and Safe Leave (PSSL) days
- Only 10 PSSL days annually (plus 15 PTO days for pre-June hires)
- Strict RTO policy requires 3 office days/week, limiting flexibility
Resource Links Provided to Employees
- Mental Wellbeing Portal
- Free Lyra mental health sessions
- PSSL policy documentation
Policy Limitations and Employee Concerns
Key issues with TikTok’s approach:
- PSSL Policy Gaps: Doesn’t explicitly cover natural disasters
- Air Quality Concerns: Smoke exposure may qualify as hazardous, but not all affected employees are under official evacuation orders
- Resource Strain: Employees worry about:
- Depleting limited sick days
- Using precious battery/generator power for work
- 4 million+ Southern Californians currently without power
Leadership Response and Legal Perspective
TikTok claims any directives to use personal time were “misunderstandings,” despite internal message screenshots suggesting otherwise. The company later stated:
“The safety and well-being of our employees is our highest priority… We are committed to supporting our team with flexibility.”
Legal expert Pooja Nair notes:
- Generally legal to require PTO use during natural disasters
- Sick leave should only be required for permissible health-related absences
Broader Context
This situation arises as TikTok faces:
- Potential U.S. ban creating employee stress
- Criticism for “business-as-usual” approach during crisis
- Implementation of screenshot detection in company communications
Updated with TikTok’s official statement post-publication.
Sarah Perez can be reached at [email protected] or @sarahperez.01 on Signal.
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