“I am not your Mom” says Cristina, Qu Jing
The Toxic Leadership Fiasco: Baidu’s PR Chief Sparks Outrage with Unapologetic Endorsement of Brutal Work Culture
The recent controversy surrounding Qu Jing, the former vice president and head of communications at Baidu, has shed light on the prevalence of toxic leadership practices in China’s tech industry. The fiasco erupted when Qu posted a series of videos on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, portraying herself as a ruthless manager who prioritizes results over employee well-being.
Link to SCMP post about Qu Jing’s story
https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3262231/baidus-public-relations-head-steps-down-after-eye-popping-remarks-work-culture-spark-controversy
In one of the videos, Qu criticized an employee who refused to go on a 50-day business trip during the COVID-19 pandemic, when China imposed stringent travel restrictions and quarantines. She stated:
“Why should I take my employee’s family into consideration? I am not her mother-in-law. I’m 10 years, 20 years older than you. I didn’t feel bitter about it or tired, even though I have two children. Who are you to tell me that your husband can’t stand it?” [3][4][11]
Qu’s dismissive attitude towards her employees’ personal lives and her endorsement of an extreme work culture sparked widespread outrage. In another video, she advised public relations professionals to “keep your phone on 24 hours a day, always ready to respond” and “don’t expect weekends off.” [1][2][5][8][9][12]
Furthermore, Qu threatened retaliation against employees who complained about her management style, stating:
“I can make it impossible for you to find a job in this industry with just a short essay.” [3][11]
The videos quickly went viral, igniting a firestorm of criticism from the public, who accused Qu of promoting a toxic workplace environment and lacking empathy for her employees’ well-being.
The Aftermath and Apology
As the backlash intensified, Baidu’s stock price fell 2.17% in Hong Kong on Tuesday, May 7th, and the company faced a significant public relations crisis. [2][5][6][8] Qu eventually took down the controversial videos from her Douyin account and issued an apology on her WeChat Moments account.
In her apology, Qu acknowledged the widespread criticism and promised to learn from her mistakes. She stated (shown below in her weibo)
“I have carefully read all the opinions and comments from various platforms, and many criticisms are very pertinent. I deeply reflect on and humbly accept them.” [3][4][9][12]
Qu admitted that she had not obtained Baidu’s approval before posting the videos and acknowledged that her remarks did not represent the company’s stance. She also apologized for creating misunderstandings about Baidu’s values and corporate culture. [1][2][4][5][8][9][12]
Despite her apology, the incident has reignited discussions about the notoriously demanding work culture in China’s tech sector, where long hours and intense pressure are often glorified as necessary for success.
The controversy surrounding Qu Jing serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of toxic leadership and the importance of fostering a healthy, supportive work environment. As companies strive to attract and retain top talent, it is crucial to cultivate leaders who embody empathy, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to creating a positive and inclusive workplace.
Citations:
[1] https://www.shine.cn/biz/company/2405094737/
[2] https://technode.com/2024/05/10/baidus-pr-head-leaves-company-after-toxic-work-culture-video-controversy/
[3] https://au.news.yahoo.com/im-not-mother-baidu-pr-172400799.html
[4] https://apnews.com/article/china-baidu-overwork-996-qujing-e4a3c520f72d3555e70df6ffbb58b099
[5] https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3262231/baidus-public-relations-head-steps-down-after-eye-popping-remarks-work-culture-spark-controversy
[6] https://www.campaignasia.com/article/baidu-pr-head-departs-company-following-controversial-videos/495942
[7] https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Baidu-PR-chief-s-videos-spark-backlash-over-harsh-workplace-culture
[8] https://fortune.com/asia/2024/05/09/baidu-pr-head-causes-crisis-social-media-posts-boasts-about-being-harsh-boss/
[9] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz4x5nnpe80o
[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baidu
[11] https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/09/tech/china-qu-jing-baidu-pr-backlash-hnk-intl/index.html
[12] https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/09/chinese-pr-boss-says-sorry-after-glorifying-work-till-you-drop-culture
[13] https://www.shine.cn/zhanglong/
[14] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66368714
[15] https://www.campaignasia.com/article/universal-pulls-music-on-tiktok-amid-contract-dispute/494169
[16] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65541518
[17] https://www.campaignasia.com/video/exclusive-just-a-little-artistic-exaggeration-or-raw-racism/425138
[18] https://www.linkedin.com/company/technodechina/
[19] https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/disney-argues-had-first-amendment-181139038.html