Two Chinese companies have come under scrutiny for their toxic work cultures after reports emerged of absurd and dehumanizing practices enforced on their employees. These companies are accused of forcing staff to lie on the floor to greet their boss and eat ‘death chillies’ as punishment for failing their tasks.
One of the companies, based in Guangzhou, allegedly mandates its employees to lie down on the office floor as a way of “respecting” their superiors. Instead of offering a standard greeting, workers are reportedly required to chant slogans praising the boss and the company, demonstrating loyalty by declaring that work comes before everything else. Workers have been heard shouting: “Qiming branch welcomes Boss Huang! Qiming branch, whether in life or death, we will not fail our work mission” as part of this ritual.
In a separate incident, another company in Chengdu reportedly uses ‘death chillies’ as a form of punishment for employees who fail to meet their performance targets. Staff who don’t complete their tasks are forced to eat extremely spicy chillies. The practice has led to at least two female employees being rushed to the hospital after ingesting the fiery chillies during work hours.
Following reports of the strange practice in Guangzhou, company representatives denied these claims, but videos showing employees lying on the floor and performing the ritual have gone viral on Chinese social media, further drawing attention to the company’s toxic environment.
These bizarre workplace practices have sparked outrage online, highlighting the extreme lengths some companies in China go to enforce obedience and control over their employees. The controversy has raised serious questions about workplace ethics and employee well-being in the country’s corporate sector.
