WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WORK FOR A CHINESE COMPANY?

I’m working in a company which is run by Chinese management. I shall stay anonymous to avoid any unpredictable events which may arise due to critical comments below.

• Appearance of wealth is extremely important. Higher management of the company should drive high-end cars and never use public transport. Parking spaces should be reserved for members of staff who have the best vehicles. Presentation of wealth leads to more investment opportunities from other businesses.
• There is rampant borrowing of money from other companies and even between co-workers. That’s how business and personal relationships can be mended and enhanced.
• Management has the power to set out direction of the company in any way they want, even if front-line employees disagree.
• There is no such thing as limits. The amount of money that company can borrow, the amount of hours that front-line employees should work and the amount of projects that company can take on are all unlimited.
• Quality and user experience of the products and services which company produces is not taken very seriously. The most important aim is to build or launch something very quickly. If it doesn’t work, the company can always find a way to produce something else.
• If a worker wants to rise through the ranks, it will be easier to achieve this by agreeing with superiors and doing them favors which may not be related to workplace duties.

To make the long story short, we shall use the analogy of lemons and lemonade : In the West, people are expecting lemonade. In China, people are given lemons and they have to make lemonade if they want to live. Xi Jinping has recently said in an address to nation that people deserve success and happiness only after struggle.

Article published on Quora