TikTok vows to support US employees amid potential app ban
FILE PHOTO: Tik Tok logo, the U.S. flag and a judge gavel are seen in this illustration taken, August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
TikTok has assured its 7,000 US employees that their jobs, pay, and benefits will remain secure, even if the Supreme Court upholds a law mandating the app’s sale or banning its operations in the US.
This commitment was outlined in an internal memo reviewed by Reuters on Tuesday.
“I cannot emphasize enough that your wellbeing is a top priority,” the memo stated. “Your employment, pay, and benefits are secure, and our offices will remain open, even if this situation hasn’t been resolved before the January 19 deadline.”
Owned by China-based ByteDance, TikTok faces mounting legal and political challenges. The law in question, passed in April, would take effect on January 19 unless overturned by the Supreme Court.
President-elect Donald Trump has called for an extension of the deadline to explore a “political resolution” after his inauguration the following day.
Despite the uncertainty, TikTok leadership is actively preparing for various scenarios. “Our leadership team remains laser focused on planning for various scenarios and continuing to plan the way forward,” the memo noted.
The company emphasized that the law would primarily affect the user experience, not its employees. However, if the Supreme Court does not block the law, TikTok downloads from Apple and Google app stores will cease.
Current users will retain access temporarily, but service degradation and eventual cessation could follow due to restrictions on third-party support for the app.
TikTok’s promise to support its employees underscores its commitment to navigating this challenging period while safeguarding its US operations and its 170 million American users.
