Work-life balance is an important part of a productive work environment, which can improve your physical and mental health. Recently, a top PR executive at Chinese internet giant Baidu sparked public outrage after her controversial videos glorifying overwork culture went viral on Chinese social media. BBC reported.
Qu Jing, Baidu's vice president and head of its PR department, posted four videos on TikTok's Chinese sister Douyin, endorsing its hard work culture. In the first video, she criticized employees who refused to take long business trips, stating that she had “no obligation to know if employees were crying.”
“Why should I consider an employee's family? I'm not her mother-in-law!” she asked in one video. “If you are not satisfied with your job, you can resign. I will approve it immediately,” she added.
In another video, she said, “If you work in public relations, don't expect weekends off. Keep your phone on 24 hours a day, always ready to respond.”
She also threatened retaliation against subordinates who complained about her management. “I can make it impossible for you to find a job in this industry with just a short essay,” she wrote.
Her videos spread like wildfire, with users criticizing her for her aggressive and insensitive approach.
''Her voice and tone reflect a deep indifference and lack of empathy for the common fate of her colleagues. This is what the bosses think, and she just said it out loud,” said a Chinese technology analyst CNN.
After widespread public anger, the four videos posted by Ms Jing were removed. She posted an apology, saying that her videos did not reflect Baidu's position and that she had not sought permission from the company before posting them.
''I have carefully read all the opinions and comments from different platforms and many criticisms are very relevant. I think deeply about them and humbly accept them,” Ms. Jing wrote on WeChat, China's most popular social media app.
“I apologize that the inappropriate videos have caused the public to misunderstand my company's values and culture. There were many inappropriate and inappropriate points in the videos, which have led to misunderstandings about the company's values and culture, which serious damage has been done. I will learn from my mistakes, improve the way I communicate and care more for my colleagues,” she added.