As China is reopening its doors, it is looking to lure talent from across the world and country. However, due to its toxic work culture, it’s facing a major roadblock.
China and its toxic work culture
With the doors opening again after a three-year-long hiatus, China is looking to lure back talent from both within and outside its boundaries. However, companies across the country are facing a major hurdle due to the toxic work culture. This is also a major reason why people are looking to work outside the nation, instead of dedicating long hours to companies at home.
As per an SCMP report, citizens laid off by firms in the west are not interested in working for Chinese companies. This is because most firms demand long hours, leaving staff with heavy loads. One report quotes, “Mark Liu,’ stating “he would rather take a break from work than work for a company in China” after being laid off by Amazon Canada. In China, working equals terrible work-life conditions and balance. The stress can turn toxic and make things difficult very quickly.
More on the toxic work culture in China
Since graduating Liu joined a state-owned bank and worked in Shanghai. Working overtime hours was “compulsory” every month and the toxic culture was affecting everyone. “The company is trying its best to manipulate you, to restrain you, and control you. It just feels that the company is not your partner and supporter, but rather you are a slave that gets paid. If you don’t reach the 46-hour requirement, the boss will criticize you. And in the second year, it became 50 hours,” he explained.
As per China’s labor law, the statutory working time is capped at eight hours daily and hours per week. However, very few companies abide by it. As per China’s National Bureau of Statistics, as of December, an average Chinese employee works for about 47.0 hours. However, employees in the US average 34.7 hours weekly.