An Alabama creator says she was fired after posting TikToks recorded at work, sharing a tearful follow-up video moments after losing her job. Some viewers argued she should have known better than to film TikToks at work, while others called for empathy, saying nearly everyone has used their phone on the job.
Posted to TikTok by user Liz Phillips, who goes by @lizard_83, the creator says she had just shared a video showing her sitting at her desk pondering her finances and her desire to pick up a second job before being called into HR.
“Not 10 minutes after I posted that video, they called me into HR and I just got fired from this full time job,” she says. The Alabama creator ends the video visibly emotional, saying, “So now I don’t know what to do.”
She later provided additional context in the comments after viewers accused her of using company time for social media. “I always posted while outside on my breaks or lunch. I didn’t know I couldn’t record myself,” she wrote.
She also claimed she wasn’t the only employee regularly using a phone while working. “Others who trained me posted videos and even FaceTimed people while working. They watch movies on their phones and everything,” she added.
The conversation later took another turn after someone claiming to be the coworker who reported the Alabama TikToker to HR entered the comments, alleging there was more to the firing than the videos. That user account was later deleted.
TikTok Weighs In
Many commenters argued the firing wasn’t surprising. “Girl, you posted at your desk with your headset on,” one commenter wrote.
Another believed the fact that she was posting wasn’t necessarily the issue, but rather that she was posting about needing a second job while working her current one. “Shouldn’t be on your phone at work. Should’ve been thankful for that job. Not everything needs to be posted, especially if you’re being paid on the clock. It could’ve waited until after hours.”
Others said Liz still hadn’t learned her lesson about posting everything online, even after losing her job. “And here you are back online,” one person wrote.
Though, some viewers felt the comments lacked empathy, pointing out that many employees have used their phones while on the clock. “Everyone acting like they’ve never been on their phone at work before,” one commenter wrote.
Another added, “These comments are disgusting. It’s hard enough to try to make it in this world. Empathy and kindness cost nothing.” A few even suggested the creator may have grounds to challenge the termination if she had only been recording or posting during breaks rather than while actively working.
Beyond Liz’s firing, the comments became a conversation about where people think it’s appropriate to use your phone. From recording TikToks to just scrolling during the workday, commenters seem to have very different ideas about what crosses the line and what doesn’t.
