Baidu’s public relations head steps down after eye-popping remarks on work culture spark controversy in China
- The internet search giant’s internal system shows that Qu Jing has departed from her position, according to current employees
- Qu has apologised for her series of short videos supporting a gruelling work culture, while a Baidu executive has condemned damaging work practices
The firm’s internal system shows that Qu, a vice-president, has departed from her position, according to employees who declined to be named because they are not authorised to speak to the media.
Chinese tech outlet 36Kr first reported on Qu’s exit.
Baidu did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
The Beijing-based company on the same day published on its public WeChat account an internal speech by Cui Shanshan, senior vice-president in charge of human resources and administrative functions, condemning damaging work practices that she said are common in Big Tech firms, including “working overtime to show a [positive] working attitude”.
This comes after Qu posted a series of short videos on Douyin, the Chinese sibling of TikTok, in which she said she had no obligation to care about her staff’s well-being, and criticised one of her subordinates for refusing to go on a 50-day business trip during the Covid-19 pandemic.