Video-sharing app TikTok has introduced a custom app for employees in its Dublin offices to track their office attendance. 

The company is introducing software MyRTO, which tracks when an employee swipes their badge in and out of a building. 

Staff who decline to work from the office at least three days a week could face disciplinary action, according to reports in the Irish Independent.  

The Chinese-owned company employs 3,000 people in Dublin. 

It has new locations at the Tropical Fruit Warehouse office building on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay in the Docklands and at the Sorting Office, a former An Post site on Cardiff Lane. 

'Fairly draconian'

Future-Wise Managing Director Peter Cosgrove said many tech companies are “very keen” to get people back in-person at least three days a week. 

“But the way they’re going about it is probably the wrong way,” he said. “I think it’s fairly draconian. 

“They're setting up this us versus them, employer vs employee mindset, which never goes well. 

“There are reasons why they may want people back in the office, but this comes across very strongly, ‘we don’t trust you, so we want you back in the office’.” 

An iPhone showing TikTok and other application icons on-screen in August 2020. Picture by: Wachiwit / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Cosgrove said there are times when working from home is beneficial for “specific tasks”. 

“The challenge is if the work is collaborative and about building relationships, you can't really do it well on a Teams meeting than in person,” he said. 

Several companies have recently doubled down on in-person office attendance among its employees. 

“Most recently two weeks ago, Zoom, which made a huge amount of money from remote working, has mandated its employees to come back three days a week,” Mr Cosgrove said.