‘TIKTOXIC’ BOSS
Europe big on leave after harass, bully claims
A senior TikTok executive who runs the app’s operations in Central Europe reportedly has been placed on leave over allegations that he lords over a toxic work environment in which women subordinates are bullied, “mansplained” and sexually harassed, according to multiple complaints.
Tobias Henning, general manager of TikTok’s operations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, was allegedly such a tyrant that one pregnant staffer avoided meeting with him out of fear that the stress would cause harm to her unborn child, according to one of the explosive complaints obtained by The Post.
“This man is f--king unhinged,” one female employee wrote in a text message to a colleague describing her boss after a tense one-on-one meeting.
On Monday, staffers at TikTok offices in Germany were informed that Henning was placed on leave while TikTok investigates the complaints, according to business magazine Fast Company.
Several women in TikTok’s offices in Berlin alleged that Henning exhibited “unpredictable” mood swings characterized by “a sudden and drastic change in attitude” that reduced them to tears, according to the complaint reviewed by The Post.
One staffer who worked under Henning before she left the firm in July 2022 said in the formal internal complaint obtained by The Post that he subjected her to “misogynistic behavior and sexual harassment, especially derogatory comments, lack of respect and mansplaining.”
When she reported these incidents to human resources, “she did not receive any support” as HR reps “disregarded her concerns and tried to shut her down,” it was alleged in the complaint.
Another woman who remains employed at TikTok Germany alleged that she experienced “a bout of nervous collapse” and was subjected to “severe psychological distress” after a June 8, 2023, meeting with Henning, during which the executive “exerted significant pressure” on her and “reiterat[ed] that she was not performing her duties adequately.”
The unidentified employee, who was pregnant at the time, told her colleagues that the encounter made her “reluctan[t] to attend another meeting with Tobias due to the fear of jeopardizing her unborn child,” according to the complaint.
The complaint includes a screenshot of a text message from the pregnant woman to a colleague in which she appears to write: “let me get through this next meeting first and see, but yeah I need some rest, this man is f--king unhinged.”
She alleged in the complaint that Henning violated German labor laws that safeguard pregnant employees by failing to “arrange her workplace in a manner that ensured sufficient protection for herself and her kid against any health hazards.”
Being probed
Henning also had the propensity to “[not] hesitate to humiliate and undermine his direct reports” by remarking on their performance in front of others as well as “refusing trips or industry events attendance for no business reason,” the complaint alleged.
The female workers as well as the author of one of the internal complaints didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Henning did not reply to requests for comment.
A TikTok spokesperson told The Post before Henning’s suspension that the company “has strong policies against discrimination and harassment in the workplace and employees are encouraged to report their concerns — anonymously, if they so choose.”
“Every incident is investigated and appropriate action is taken at its conclusion,” the company rep told The Post.
TikTok has not commented since putting Henning on leave.
This man is f--king unhinged. —TikTok staffer