Two former Black TikTok employees, Nnete Matima and Joël Carter, have filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
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They allege that parent company ByteDance terminated them in retaliation for complaining about racial discrimination.
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Matima, who worked in sales at TikTok, claimed she was subjected to racial slurs by her supervisor and faced higher sales quotas than her white colleagues.
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Carter, a manager on TikTok's ad policy team, asserted that he received lower compensation and a lower job level compared to equally qualified non-Black peers.
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Both employees reported facing reprisals after raising concerns about unequal treatment.
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ByteDance did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations.
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The complaint comes amid increased scrutiny of ByteDance over concerns about data security and privacy.
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The tech industry has struggled to improve diversity and inclusion for years, despite commitments to change.
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TikTok had made promises to enhance diversity and inclusivity following the 2020 murder of George Floyd and concerns raised by Black creators.
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Matima and Carter's complaint highlights the challenges faced by workers of color who must decide whether to report discrimination and risk retaliation or tolerate discrimination silently.
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