Employees refuse to buy breakfast for Boss Fired, angering Netizens

An employee is obliged to obey the orders of a superior, but when the order does not match the job description, subordinates can reject it. However, because she did not want to comply with the boss’s ‘arbitrary’ orders, this employee had to lose her job.

A worker in Shanghai, China, was fired after refusing to buy breakfast for her boss. The story was uploaded on Xiaohongshu’s social media and prompted comments from netizens.

The woman, known only as Lou, is a new employee at an educational institution. Lou said his boss, a woman named Liu, asked him to bring her a hot Americano and an egg for breakfast every morning.

Not only that, Liu also often makes Lou prepare a bottle of drinking water on his table. Lou, who felt that the order was not in line with his duties, complained in an employee discussion group, and as a result he was reprimanded by the administrator.

Soon after, he was fired by HR and told he wouldn’t receive any compensation. The company’s unreasonable treatment made him feel helpless. Lou also asked his boss to pay him back for the expenses he spent on buying coffee, eggs and bottled water.

Lou’s story attracted public attention and drew criticism. Many defended Lou and asked the company to fulfill his rights as an employee.

“This boss treats his subordinates as free helpers, unethical and bullying,” said one netizen.

“Lou showed great courage by demonstrating the behavior of his boss.”

Lou’s complaint was eventually brought to the company’s attention after his story went viral. As reported by the South China Morning Post, the company issued a statement that boss Lou was fired for abusing his authority and forcing subordinates help with his personal affairs.

Wang, the head of HR, said Lou’s dismissal was Liu’s sole decision and was not in line with company policy. Meanwhile, Lou gets his job back and resumes his normal duties, although he is still unsure if he will receive compensation.

Lou’s experience is one of many cases of bullying that abound in China. A 2020 survey conducted by Zhilian Zhaopin, a recruitment company in China, revealed that 64% of employees had experienced bullying at work.

Common forms of bullying include being forced to do unreasonable things, verbal abuse, and even sexual harassment.

(hst/hst)