Qu Jing, head of communications at Chinese search engine giant Baidu, has reportedly left the company following a public backlash against her views on work culture.Qu sparked outrage with a series of online videos where she appeared dismissive of employee well-being. In the videos, she:Claimed she wasn't responsible for employee happiness, stating, "I'm not their mom."Prioritized results over employee well-being.Described the employer-employee relationship as purely transactional.Threatened to sabotage the careers of employees who complained.Criticized an employee for refusing a lengthy business trip during COVID restrictions.These comments fueled existing discontent with China's demanding work culture, known as "996" (working 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week). Qu's remarks gained traction on social media, with many criticizing her lack of empathy.Following the controversy, Qu apologized publicly, admitting her comments caused "serious harm" and did not reflect Baidu's values. However, reports suggest she has since left the company.Qu's departure highlights the growing pushback against grueling work hours in China, particularly among young people. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of company leaders fostering a positive and supportive work environment.

Qu Jing, head of public relations at China's search giant Baidu, issued an apology after sparking outrage with comments glorifying extreme work hours.In videos on Douyin (China's TikTok), Qu dismissed responsibility for employee well-being and threatened to punish those who complained. "I'm not your mother," she said.Her remarks fueled debate about China's infamous "996" work culture (9 am to 9 pm, six days a week). This follows similar comments from Alibaba founder Jack Ma, who called it a "blessing."Qu claimed her dedication was so intense, she didn't know her son's grade level. She also said working weekends and constant phone availability were expected in PR.Baidu has remained silent on the issue. But Qu apologized, stating her views weren't Baidu's and she regretted causing a misunderstanding."I will learn from this and improve communication, while prioritizing colleague well-being," she wrote.The incident has ignited heated discussions on Chinese social media platform Weibo. Chinese social media platform Weibo has seen heated discussion over the incident in the past few days.This was one of the comments: "As the company's vice-president, [Ms Qu] should have known that her comments and attitude would disgust her subordinates, yet she went ahead to make them public. This speaks of how out-of-touch she is."