Leidy Aragón, a Cuban entrepreneur running a house cleaning business in the United States, stated on social media this Sunday that she prefers to hire people from any nationality other than her own. "I don't like hiring Cubans to work," she declared in a controversial video posted on TikTok, which garnered nearly 3,000 comments in less than 24 hours.
"As a helper, I prefer Guatemalans or Hondurans," remarked Aragón, who, despite being Cuban, finds people from other nationalities more reliable based on her experience. Aragón shared a list of reasons, starting with the claim that once Cubans are hired, they start acting like bosses. "Secondly, they want to earn more than I do," she added, recounting an incident where an employee began stealing her clients. "I don't know if I've had many bad experiences, but it hasn't worked out for me," she admitted.
The young businesswoman shared a particular instance where she hired a Cuban: "The next day, when I saw her arrive, I almost had a heart attack. She looked more ready for a party than to work." Aragón pointed out another reason, saying that Cubans don't like being corrected: "They think they know everything."
Lastly, she emphasized that anyone who owns a business knows how important it is to protect it. Her post has sparked significant controversy in the comments section. Some netizens have supported her statements, while others have completely disagreed.
A person named Chiqui Plus (@yaramilezcano) commented, "I am a store manager in Canada, and I wish all my workers were Cuban." Another user, NGAWishes (@ngawishes), said that what matters is not nationality but education and honesty, which make the difference. "I am Cuban, but I admire how Haitians help each other, while we always undermine our own race," noted Oro Mi Yeye Espinosa (@oro.mi.yeye.espin).
Elena (@elena28246) expressed, "We Cubans are the only ones who disparage our own race, how sad!" For @percycaceres192, the issue lies in the lack of work culture in Cuba: "Nobody works; other countries do have that work culture." A user named Perla (@chela2700) agreed, saying, "I am Cuban and have my nail salon in Mexico; I've experienced the same with Cubans. Sadly, I haven't found anyone worthwhile, just as you said."
Recently, Aragón faced strong criticism for admitting she works as a house cleaner in Miami. In contrast, @real15_ shared that she spent seven years in Brazil working in cleaning and that when she told her employer she couldn't continue, her employer cried with sadness.
Aragón expressed her surprise and discontent at some users who even sent her private messages asking if she felt ashamed of admitting her profession.
Controversial Hiring Practices in the Cuban Community
In light of Leidy Aragón's statements, many questions and discussions have arisen regarding hiring practices, work culture, and the experiences of Cuban business owners abroad. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
Why does Leidy Aragón prefer to hire non-Cubans?
Leidy Aragón believes that non-Cubans, such as Guatemalans and Hondurans, are more reliable and less problematic based on her personal experiences.
What issues has Aragón faced with Cuban employees?
Aragón has faced issues such as employees acting like bosses, demanding higher pay, stealing clients, and not accepting corrections.
How has the public reacted to Aragón's video?
The video has generated a mixed reaction, with some supporting her views and others strongly disagreeing.