"Fined 370,000 Won for Eating Snacks"… Chinese Company Faces Backlash Over Outrageous Notice

"If You Leave Work Without Turning Off Your Computer, You Are Fined 20,000 Won"
"37,0000 Won Fine for Looking in the Mirror or Eating Snacks"
Controversy Over Absurd Workplace Rules at a Chinese Furniture Company

A well-known Chinese furniture company is facing controversy after it was revealed that employees are fined for minor actions such as looking in the mirror or eating snacks during work hours. Local internet users have criticized the company, saying, "This is not a workplace but a prison," and there are even signs of a boycott emerging.

A Chinese furniture company is facing controversy for imposing unreasonable directives on its employees. SCMP

According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on June 17, the company at the center of the controversy is Man Wah Group, a major furniture manufacturer headquartered in Guangdong Province. The company employs about 27,000 people and is known as one of the leading furniture companies in China.

The company recently introduced strict internal regulations. According to these rules, employees who look in the mirror or eat snacks during work hours are fined, as are their immediate supervisors and department heads. Employees are fined 2,000 yuan (about 370,000 won), their direct supervisors 1,000 yuan (about 190,000 won), and department heads 500 yuan (about 90,000 won).

This is not all. Employees who fail to turn off their company computers after work are fined 100 yuan (about 20,000 won), and those who leave their workstations without permission more than three times have 2,000 yuan (about 370,000 won) deducted from their salaries. The company explains these disciplinary measures as efforts to "improve work efficiency" and "strengthen team management."

A Chinese furniture company is facing controversy for imposing unreasonable demands on its employees. SCMP

However, public opinion in China is harsh. On Chinese social networking services (SNS), criticism continues, with users saying, "This is not a workplace but a prison." One user pointed out, "Running a company through fines is so unreasonable that it is infuriating," while another commented, "Only a boycott will bring about change." In fact, there are reports that more consumers are beginning to reject Man Wah Group's products.

Some observers attribute this situation to the "authoritarian management culture" prevalent in many Chinese companies. Many Chinese businesses still emphasize "control-oriented organizational management," and as a result, employee autonomy and improvements to the working environment are often deprioritized. This tendency is reportedly even more pronounced in manufacturing, state-owned enterprises, and large private corporations.