China boss apologises for ‘let them rot’ remark forcing staff to put work before family
Overbearing project manager slapped down on social media over callous comments ‘deeply rooted in inherent Chinese values’
A project manager in China has sparked online outrage by calling on employees to prioritise work over family and telling them to focus on the job and “if someone dies at home, let them rot”.
The remarks were revealed in an online group chat which showed the manager, surnamed Pu, from Mianyang, Sichuan province in southwestern China, indoctrinating employees to prioritise work on a construction project.
In the message, Pu first tagged all employees and asked a series of questions about their clarity on project roles.
“Is everyone clear on their responsibilities? Please take a moment to reflect. None of you are new to the project, so is everyone fully aware of their role?”
He went on to emphasise that employees must be fully dedicated to their responsibilities, mandating that any leave must be subject to project demands rather than personal needs.
“My personal view is that if you are on this project, then project work comes first. If someone dies at home, let them rot for a while. First, finishing project matters, then handle personal issues. Maybe it’s just my personal view, but I wonder if everyone agrees!” he added.
