Press "PandaGuides" above to follow us!
A disturbing incident of workplace sexual harassment in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, has sparked public outrage after a female job applicant revealed she was asked to engage in an intimate relationship with the company's general manager during her probation period.
The 28-year-old woman, surnamed Zhu, applied for an executive assistant position, initially being told the role would involve supporting management work and occasional business entertainment. However, on her first trial day, she was shocked to receive inappropriate messages from the company's 34-year-old general manager, surnamed Chen, suggesting she would need to "sleep with him" and enter into a romantic relationship as part of the job requirements.
Screenshots of the conversation that went viral on social media platform Weibo showed Chen explicitly stating these inappropriate demands. When confronted about the incident, a company staff member dismissively responded, "If you don't like it, just don't take the job. It's not a big deal."
The Yanta District Police Department in Xi'an quickly responded to Zhu's report on November 7. Following an investigation, authorities confirmed that Chen had sent inappropriate messages that disrupted Zhu's normal life. The police have imposed administrative penalties on Chen for his misconduct. According to the police statement, Chen has since apologized to Zhu, and she has accepted his apology.
The incident has triggered widespread discussion on Chinese social media, with many netizens expressing concern about the prevalence of sexual harassment in professional settings. One user commented, "This kind of behavior is absolutely unacceptable in any workplace. It's a blatant abuse of power." Another noted, "It's frightening to think how many other women might have faced similar situations but remained silent."
