A Chinese company is facing controversy for forcing employees to perform a 'fire-eating stunt.' Some companies argue that such activities help build the strength to overcome fear and boost confidence.
On the 8th (local time), according to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP), a netizen named 'Rongrong' revealed on social media that "the company held an unreasonable teamwork event." Rongrong's company reportedly required participants to put a flame attached to a stick into their mouths during the teamwork event. This stunt is mainly seen in circuses or acrobatic performances. A netizen who saw this explained, "If you close your mouth quickly, oxygen is cut off and the fire goes out," adding, "You must control your breathing, keep your mouth moist, and close your mouth precisely and quickly. Only trained professionals can perform this safely."
Rongrong said they did not want to participate in this activity but felt pressured to join out of fear of losing their job. The company in question is an educational institution headquartered in Liaoning Province in northeastern China, and Rongrong had worked there for less than a year. Rongrong stated that 60 people participated in the two-day teamwork event. "The company executives wanted to show the employees' determination. They wanted to see that we want to win and make money," Rongrong said. They added, "I thought the activity was humiliating."
Rongrong ultimately stated that the company violated labor laws and plans to sue the company. The company has not issued a statement regarding the matter. However, under local law, companies that order unfair actions infringing on employees' rights can receive warnings and be ordered to pay damages. Chen Pingfan, a lawyer at Hunan Fulong Law Firm, said, "I will expose rude workplace practices along with taking legal action."
The incident quickly spread on Chinese social media, sparking controversy. Netizens responded with comments such as, "A fake obedience test disguised as an event. Rongrong should quit the job," "There is still a long way to go in protecting workers," and "At my previous job, I had to do a test where I fell backward from a 2-meter height with my eyes closed toward colleagues. It was to check if I trusted them, and I was so scared I cried."
Meanwhile, some Chinese companies include fire-eating stunts in teamwork events, claiming they help boost employees' confidence, build the strength to overcome fear, and unlock potential.
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