A woman has gone viral after alleging that her boss took his employees’ chairs away, forcing them to stand for the eight-hour workday — simply because “it looks better.”
The TikToker, who goes only by Annie, posted the video to her modest 170 followers late last month. However, she’s just now going viral for claiming that her ex-boss took away her chair, while also claiming in the comments that she was forbidden to use the bathroom — or her phone — which prompted her to quit the job.
The clip, in which Annie doesn’t reveal her profession, place of employment or boss’ name, exploded this week with more than 290,400 views as of Wednesday afternoon.
Annie said in the comments that she didn’t have a problem standing while on the clock so long as she was actually doing something.
“I’d be fine if I had stuff to do but like just standing doing nothing all day? No break,” quipped Annie.
Several commenters were quick to blast Annie’s former unnamed employer.
“I worked at a factory on a line packing meat and they really said ‘don’t sit it looks bad,’” said one irate user, while another chimed in: “WHO’S LOOKING?”
“I have degenerated discs in my back now from standing at work for too many years/hours,” revealed one particularly ticked-off TikTok commenter. “It’s b/s. Customers literally don’t care if you sit.”
“I’m 6 months pregnant and standing for long periods of time hurts my feet, plus I feel faint when I do,” chimed in a third user. “My manager told me sitting means I’m slacking.”
Some of the commenters were actually curious as to why sitting was a problem.
“When I walk in I’d prefer to see people sitting comfy and happy then standing and tired,” one said. “I really don’t understand why companies want to make the job as miserable and exhausting as possible,” questioned another.
The Post has reached out to Annie for comment.
Nearly 51 countries around the world have laws that prevent employers from taking away “seat privileges” from workers.
Article 14 of the “International Labour Organization’s Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964” states that “sufficient and suitable seats shall be supplied for workers and workers shall be given reasonable opportunities of using them.”
The US has not ratified the convention, but many states have passed laws — despite many of them being unenforced — protecting employees. The only state known to enforce those laws is California.
Meanwhile, Albany Democrats introduced legislation to allow some New Yorkers to sit on the job — despite the risk of creating a future “Seinfeld” security situation featuring a comfy store guard napping on the job.
“Jokes are funny — but I think within reason, the argument can be made that we should be allowing folks to sit whenever possible,” Assemblywoman Karines Reyes (D-Bronx), a registered nurse experienced in accumulating steps, said about the bill she is sponsoring with state Sen. Rachel May (D-Syracuse).
A similar argument was made by the fictional George Costanza in a famous episode of the classic NBC sitcom — before robbers pillage a store while a security guard dozes in a rocking chair provided by the neurotic protagonist.
— Zach Williams contributed to this report.
[Written in collaboration with other media outlets with information from the following sources]
