MANY Chinese students face stiff competition to earn a place to pursue their studies in universities across China.
But it gets even tougher for most upon graduation as they enter the next phase of life – joining the working world.
Many discover building a career is not a smooth journey and would be a real challenge.
Last week, Xiamen International Bank became the most popular financial institution in the Middle Kingdom, but for the wrong reason.
It started when a freshman, surnamed Yang, vented out his frustration while seeking advice in a group chat comprising his university mates and lecturers.
Yang, a rookie at the bank’s Zhongguancun branch in Beijing, attended his first company gathering at a hotel on Aug 20.
At the dining table, a senior executive ordered him to change his drink from water to alcohol.
He refused and apologised for it.
After several rounds of toasts, another senior walked up to him and criticised him for saying no to the boss.
The senior then slapped him and scolded him with vulgarities.
Yang claimed that none of his colleagues defended him.
Instead, they forced him to drink, too.
He walked out after seeing his friends, who were also junior executives, becoming intoxicated and vomiting on the dining table while several colleagues threw glasses and some seniors sexually harassed female workers.
Several colleagues chased him and humiliated him until he entered the elevator.
“I was shocked and disappointed. As a newbie in the workforce, what happened at the restaurant has dashed my beautiful dream for the finance industry,” he wrote in the group chat.
He also sought advice from his human resources lecturer, asking if his act of refusing to drink had failed to meet the company’s requirement.
“What I experienced, has it gone beyond my job scope?” he asked.
Yang’s post was put up on a social media platform and it went viral.
In responding to the incident, Xiamen International Bank apologised and said part of the performance-based allowance of two senior executives, including the branch manager, would be suspended.
It explained that it was an unofficial event.
Yam seng is a culture in China where every province brews its own beer and bai jiu (Chinese wine).
Many bars also craft their own beers, which are very tasty as they are mixed with seasonal fruits.
Bai jiu – made with a variety of grains including rice, sorghum and corn – has an average alcoholic content of 50%.
It is common to see diners consuming alcoholic beverages at restaurants, even during business or office banquets.
I have attended many work-related events that served alcoholic beverages.
Halfway through, the organisers would go from table to table, offering a toast to everyone to express their gratitude.
As for the guests, it is also deemed polite to response to the host after he returned to his seat to thank him for the invitation.
And as far as I can see, no one is forced to finish his or her drink at the events and it is fine if the glasses are filled with non-alcoholic ones.
Perhaps they dare not do so because we are journalists.
Drinking is a personal matter that cannot be forced as it is harmful to one’s health, especially to those who are allergic to alcohol.
To the Chinese, if a senior or “high-ranking” person offers a toast to you, it means he looks up to you and that you should not reject him or he will “lose face”.
As Yang’s post went viral, some netizens have called for an end to the culture.
In a statement, the China Banking Association acknowledged the existence of negative practices in the industry with some leaders considering the workers’ drinking capacity equivalent to his or her work performance.
Some leaders even tell the new employees that drinking brings businesses to them, it noted.
In the case of Yang, the association said it was individual leaders who tried to “recruit” their own men and boycott those who were outside the circle.
It urged industry players to hand down stiffer punishment on wrongdoings and enhance self-discipline among the staff.
But it gets even tougher for most upon graduation as they enter the next phase of life – joining the working world.
Many discover building a career is not a smooth journey and would be a real challenge.
Last week, Xiamen International Bank became the most popular financial institution in the Middle Kingdom, but for the wrong reason.
It started when a freshman, surnamed Yang, vented out his frustration while seeking advice in a group chat comprising his university mates and lecturers.
Yang, a rookie at the bank’s Zhongguancun branch in Beijing, attended his first company gathering at a hotel on Aug 20.
At the dining table, a senior executive ordered him to change his drink from water to alcohol.
He refused and apologised for it.
After several rounds of toasts, another senior walked up to him and criticised him for saying no to the boss.
The senior then slapped him and scolded him with vulgarities.
Yang claimed that none of his colleagues defended him.
Instead, they forced him to drink, too.
He walked out after seeing his friends, who were also junior executives, becoming intoxicated and vomiting on the dining table while several colleagues threw glasses and some seniors sexually harassed female workers.
Several colleagues chased him and humiliated him until he entered the elevator.
“I was shocked and disappointed. As a newbie in the workforce, what happened at the restaurant has dashed my beautiful dream for the finance industry,” he wrote in the group chat.
He also sought advice from his human resources lecturer, asking if his act of refusing to drink had failed to meet the company’s requirement.
“What I experienced, has it gone beyond my job scope?” he asked.
Yang’s post was put up on a social media platform and it went viral.
In responding to the incident, Xiamen International Bank apologised and said part of the performance-based allowance of two senior executives, including the branch manager, would be suspended.
It explained that it was an unofficial event.
Yam seng is a culture in China where every province brews its own beer and bai jiu (Chinese wine).
Many bars also craft their own beers, which are very tasty as they are mixed with seasonal fruits.
Bai jiu – made with a variety of grains including rice, sorghum and corn – has an average alcoholic content of 50%.
It is common to see diners consuming alcoholic beverages at restaurants, even during business or office banquets.
I have attended many work-related events that served alcoholic beverages.
Halfway through, the organisers would go from table to table, offering a toast to everyone to express their gratitude.
As for the guests, it is also deemed polite to response to the host after he returned to his seat to thank him for the invitation.
And as far as I can see, no one is forced to finish his or her drink at the events and it is fine if the glasses are filled with non-alcoholic ones.
Perhaps they dare not do so because we are journalists.
Drinking is a personal matter that cannot be forced as it is harmful to one’s health, especially to those who are allergic to alcohol.
To the Chinese, if a senior or “high-ranking” person offers a toast to you, it means he looks up to you and that you should not reject him or he will “lose face”.
As Yang’s post went viral, some netizens have called for an end to the culture.
In a statement, the China Banking Association acknowledged the existence of negative practices in the industry with some leaders considering the workers’ drinking capacity equivalent to his or her work performance.
Some leaders even tell the new employees that drinking brings businesses to them, it noted.
In the case of Yang, the association said it was individual leaders who tried to “recruit” their own men and boycott those who were outside the circle.
It urged industry players to hand down stiffer punishment on wrongdoings and enhance self-discipline among the staff.
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