Baidu executive quits after reviving toxic work culture debate

The Baidu executive’s comments reverberated across social media in China, where a debate has raged about the demands that a then-aggressive tech industry placed on its often young workforce. — Bloomberg

Baidu Inc’s media relations chief has resigned after posting a string of videos endorsing 24-7 work and making light of staff wellbeing, reigniting a furor over the tech industry’s relentless “996” culture.

Qu Jing stepped down on May 9, according to people familiar with the matter, after posting at least four videos in which she talked about keeping her phone on 24-7 and warned subordinates to toe the line. “I’m not your mother-in-law,” she said in one of the clips she posted to Douyin, China’s version of TikTok.