TikTok employees frustrated by app to track in-office attendance: ‘threats of punishment’

TikTok has mandated the use of MyRTO app to track office attendance (File Photo)

TikTok is cracking down on remote work with an app to track in-office attendance. The social media company has implemented a new internal software called MyRTO — or my return to office — this month. The app part of its mandate requiring US employees to work from office at least three times a week. Some employees may have to work from office for the entire five-day work week.

According to The New York Times, MyRTO tracks badge swipes that employees make when entering office premises. Employees will be asked to explain “deviations” from expected in-office attendance. The badge swipe data will be analysed by employee supervisors and HR staff.

The report further said that employees were warned that “any deliberate and consistent disregard may result in disciplinary action” and could even impact their performance reviews.

A section of the TikTok workforce has voiced its “frustration and dismay” over the attendance policy. TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, employs around 7,000 people in the United States across major cities like New York and Los Angeles. Last year in October, it implemented a strict return-to-office policy as the coronavirus pandemic subsided. Workers were told they would be fired if their home address did not match the address of their office.

One employee spoke to The New York Times on the condition of anonymity and said the app its “threats of punishment were unnecessary, and that colleagues were now fearful about the consequences of failing to comply.”

In a statement, a TikTok spokesperson said: “The ultimate goal of MyRTO is to provide greater clarity and context to both employees and leaders regarding their RTO expectations and in-office schedules, and help foster more transparent communications.”