Hispanic woman claims she got offered a Trader Joe’s job interview when she claimed to be white
TikTokker’s videos have received tens of thousands of views after allegations of unfair treatment
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A woman from New York has claimed that Trader Joe’s only offered her a job interview after she told the supermarket chain that she was white.
In a series of TikTok videos this month, the woman, known as Leann, said she applied for a job but Trader Joe’s only offered it to her because she said she was white, rather than Hispanic.
Leann said she had applied for jobs at a number of New York locations of Trader Joe’s but after being refused, thought she would change her ethnicity on an application form.
That was when she heard back from the supermarket chain with an offer of an interview at three stores, including Grand Street, in central New York City.
“Three stores called me when applied I as white. It’s the system’s fault”, Leann said in a TikTok video. “I don’t what it means but do what you want with that information because that doesn’t look good.”
ESPN reporter Allison Williams quits job after refusing to take a vaccine
Biden administration asks Supreme Court to block controversial Texas abortion law
TikToker selling human bones — including fetus skulls — spark ethics debate
Video appears to show police fleeing Hawaii crash caused by a chase which left two paralysed 
Trump fan accused of tasing police officer at Capitol riot cries and calls himself ‘piece of s***’ in FBI interview
She claimed in another TikTok that Trader Joe’s’ vice president assured her of the hiring processes in a phone call, after her TikTok videos went viral.
Thousands of TikTok users have commented and liked her videos about applying for Trader Joe’s, and roughly 63,000 have seen her first video about receiving interview offers.
Leann said she has not yet been offered a job and her first interview is on Tuesday.
“I will now be putting white and ‘not disabled’ on my applications to see if I finally get some offers,” a TikTok user wrote.
Another theorised: “Omg. Is this the reason why I haven’t been getting called back? I’ve been looking for a job for 2.5 months now. I have hella (a lot of) experience”.
The US labour department says there were 10.4 million jobs on offer at the end of August, while the unemployment rate remains stable 4.8 per cent.
The Independent has approached Trader Joe’s for comment.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments