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CNN
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A Chinese technology executive's vehement support for a toxic workplace culture sparked outrage in China and ultimately cost him his job.
Qu Jing, Baidu's former vice president and head of communications, has been fired for public relations for the Chinese search engine after controversial comments struck a nerve with young workers fed up with grueling working hours and relentless pressure. caused a crisis.
In a series of short videos posted last week on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, Koo talked about his dedication to his career, his strict management style, and his unrelenting demands on his direct reports.
In one video, she slammed an employee who refused to travel for 50 days during the coronavirus pandemic, when China had imposed strict travel restrictions and quarantines.
“Why should I consider the employee's family? I'm not her mother-in-law,” said Ms Qu. “I'm 10 or 20 years older than you. Having two children didn't make me feel bitter or tired. Who are you to tell me that your husband can't stand it?” ”
In another clip, Ms Khoo shared her personal sacrifices as a working mother. She worked so hard that she forgot her eldest son's birthday and what grade her second son was in school. She has no regrets, she said, because “she chose to be a career woman.”
“If you work in public relations, don't expect weekends off,” she said in a third video. “Keep your phone on 24 hours a day and be ready to answer.”
In another video, she threatened to retaliate against employees who complained about her, telling them they wouldn't get another job in the industry.
But now, following public backlash, Qu has lost his job at BIDU. A person familiar with the matter spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity. CNN also saw screenshots from internal human resources systems that appear to confirm that she no longer works for the company.
Baidu did not respond to a request for comment. By Thursday night, Koo had removed the title “Vice President of Baidu” from his account on Douyin, China's version of TikTok.
Qu apologized earlier in the day and said his post did not speak for Baidu.
Jade Gao/AFP/Getty Images
Baidu is headquartered in Beijing and is China's top search engine.
The controversy quickly became a trending topic on China's X-like platforms Douyin and Weibo, dominating online discussions. Users criticized Qu for her aggressive and insensitive approach and accused her and her Baidu of promoting her toxic workplace.
“Her voice and tone reveal a deep indifference and lack of empathy for the common plight of her colleagues,” said Ivy Yang, a Chinese technology analyst and founder of consulting firm Wavelet Strategy.
“A lot of the things she said were really nerve-wracking because people feel that so often in their own workplaces. She said it so directly and to my face. “That fact caused this kind of emotional response,” she said.
“This is what her bosses are thinking and she just said it out loud,” Yang added.
Young workers in China are increasingly speaking out against the culture of excessive overwork and extreme competition that has come to dominate many industries, especially high-tech fields.
In 2019, Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma endorsed the “996” trend, which means working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week, calling it a “great blessing” and receiving heavy criticism. was bathed in
Yang called the backlash against Ma a “watershed moment” that caused people to rethink their relationship with the workplace. This trend will only intensify as China's economy slows.
Although China's economy has grown more strongly than expected at the beginning of this year, there are many problems, including a real estate crisis, a decline in overseas investment, and sluggish consumption.
“When companies demand complete loyalty, time and energy from their employees, especially when things are stagnant, employees feel like there is no reward or reward for their sacrifices and contributions. This conflict is also at the heart of the Baidu story,” Yang added.
As public outrage grew, the video posted to Qu's personal Douyin account was deleted.
After several days of silence, Qu apologized on Thursday for “causing such a big storm” in a post on his personal account on WeChat, China's most popular social media app.
“I have carefully read all opinions and comments from various platforms, and many of the criticisms are very pertinent. I deeply regret and humbly accept,” Khoo wrote.
She also sought to distance herself from her comments and Baidu, saying she had not sought prior approval and that her comments did not represent the company's position.
“The video contained numerous inappropriate and inappropriate points, which led to misunderstandings about the company's values and culture and caused serious harm,” Qu wrote.
Officials said Koo's video is part of her efforts to amplify Baidu's voice on the short video platform, which has become increasingly important for disseminating information in China.
The person, who requested anonymity, said Mr. Koo had asked all members of the public relations team to create personal accounts.
“The main goal is to improve everyone's ability to create short videos. Everyone has different choices for content, but Christina chose to talk about her personal experience.” said the official, citing Qu's English name.
Before moving into the PR industry, Ms. Qu worked as a reporter for China's state-run Xinhua News Agency. She joined Baidu in 2021 from Huawei, the Chinese tech giant known for its avid “wolf culture.” There, her employees are expected to emulate the bloodthirsty nature, fearlessness and resilience of wolves.
A former Baidu employee said Qu brought Huawei's aggressive corporate culture to Baidu.
“(She) caused quite a bit of culture shock. About 60% of the team left within months of her arrival,” a former employee told CNN on condition of anonymity.
PR teams are expected to be available at all times, keep their phones on, respond to messages promptly and attend meetings on short notice late at night or on weekends, former employees said.
Mr. Koo also adopted the military-style language used in Huawei's corporate management and demanded “discipline” and “the ability to win battles” from his team, former employees said.
CNN has reached out to Huawei for comment.
This article has been updated with additional information.
