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A woman in Shanghai was fired after refusing to purchase breakfast for her boss, sparking widespread outrage on Chinese social media. The incident, shared by the woman, Lou, on Xiaohongshu, highlighted issues of workplace bullying and abuse of power.
Lou, a new hire at an educational institution, recounted that her supervisor, a woman surnamed Liu, demanded a "hot Americano and an egg" every morning. Additionally, Lou was expected to have a bottle of water ready for Liu at all times. When Lou questioned these demands in a work chat, she was reprimanded and later fired by the human resources department without compensation.
Feeling frustrated and helpless, Lou sought reimbursement from her boss but was dismissed. Her story quickly gained traction online, with many netizens condemning the supervisor's behavior. One commenter wrote, "This boss treated her subordinate like a free assistant, which is unethical and constitutes bullying." Another praised Lou's courage for speaking out against the mistreatment.
As public outrage grew, the company responded by reinstating Lou and firing her supervisor for abusing her authority. In a statement released on September 12, the company clarified that the decision to terminate Lou had been made solely by Liu and did not reflect company policy. However, it remains unclear whether Lou will receive compensation for her ordeal.
Legal experts advise employees to collect evidence, such as screenshots or recordings, to protect themselves in such situations. Employees are not obligated to fulfill tasks unrelated to their job duties and have the right to refuse unreasonable requests, with legal action being an option if necessary.
Source: SCMP
