Maternity leave? Let’s scrap it, says TikTok chief

A SENIOR executive at social media app TikTok is to ‘take some time off’ after he angered staff by saying he didn’t believe in maternity leave.

Joshua Ma, who leads the app’s European ecommerce team, will step back from his role after the comments emerged as part of an investigation into its work culture.

Staff at TikTok’s London offices were left outraged after Mr Ma told an employee dinner that, as a ‘capitalist’, he ‘didn’t believe’ companies should offer maternity leave.

In an email to staff, TikTok said it was investigating the

‘Disheartening allegations’

‘disheartening’ allegations. Mr Ma’s comments, reported by The Financial Times, came after TikTok’s London ecommerce team reportedly suffered an exodus of staff amid complaints of a toxic company culture.

Staff claimed they were frequently expected to work more than 12 hours per day, while some team members found themselves removed from client accounts after taking annual leave.

Working into the early hours of the morning or while taking holiday was also reportedly celebrated by the company as an example of good practice.

Two employees were also thought to have been paid compensation in relation to working conditions at the firm.

TikTok declined to comment.