Today's Lianhe Zaobao reported: "Recently, Starlight Co., a leading Chinese automotive lighting company, was exposed for presenting newly hired university graduates with a 'choose one' dilemma—either resign voluntarily or be transferred to work on the production line assembling screws—sparking controversy over what has been labeled as 'humiliating layoffs.' Following this, a large number of departing employees launched legal and rights protection actions, including complaints to media outlets and government authorities; it is also rumored that some have even filed reports with the European Union."
Some commentary: This incident reveals the real contradictions faced by certain companies: while aggressively pursuing awards for being a 'best employer' and publicly promoting a warm corporate culture, they turn around and target recent college graduates—who possess no bargaining power—when facing downward industry pressures. Mass campus recruitment consumes social employment resources; these fresh graduates give up other opportunities to join, only to be pressured into resigning through tactics like being reassigned to factory assembly lines. Such practices aim to circumvent severance pay obligations under labor laws, effectively destroying young people’s precious early career window.
Even if companies face market pressures requiring workforce optimization, they must still follow formal procedures as mandated by labor law, rather than resorting to backdoor, coercive resignation schemes. Employee resistance—and in extreme cases, external reporting—will inevitably damage the company’s reputation, undermining its image both domestically and abroad. Trophies and corporate slogans are not masks to hide misconduct. Companies must not only calculate economic costs but also uphold fundamental labor standards. Especially when dealing with new graduates recruited through campus hiring, basic contractual integrity must be maintained. Otherwise, no matter how strong the brand image, the cost will be severe reputational damage.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874827611282443/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.