Workplace reviews and discussion: 蝌蚪池塘自然文創有限公司

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Most of the information on online job banks is false: the office is described as being like a small zoo, with employees interacting with animals every day. In reality, the work environment is dirty and disorderly, with cockroaches everywhere. Many animals are kept in the office, and it smells terrible every day when entering the office. At its worst, this even led to complaints from the neighbors.

Employee health examinations, performance bonuses, and domestic and overseas employee training subsidies were never implemented during my employment. Do not assume that the year-end bonus starts at one month’s salary; in reality, it was only a few thousand, not to mention the bonuses for the three major holidays. There was once an overseas trip, but employees had to pay the full cost themselves. The company only provided the leave; those who did not want to go had to come to work.

Salaries were not paid on time, and the profit-sharing bonuses mentioned during the interview were never implemented. Pay slips were provided sometimes and not provided at other times. In serious cases, employee expenses advanced on behalf of the company were not reimbursed until six months later. There was no system at all.

There were few employees but a heavy workload. At one point, there was only one employee for nearly half a year. As a full-time employee here, you had to be capable of doing everything. When there was a shortage of course instructors, administrative staff or interns would even be asked to fill in.

Working here often required overtime. Even if the day’s work had been completed, the boss might assign new tasks just before the end of the workday, forcing employees to work overtime to finish them. The company had no clock-in system (it is unclear whether this has improved); it was presented as giving employees flexibility, but in practice employees were required to arrive at work on time. When employees worked overtime, however, no overtime pay was provided. The boss even considered this perfectly reasonable, arguing: “Just because employees wear earphones and listen to music while at work doesn’t mean they are working; they might be taking a break...” (So you cannot wear earphones and listen to music while working here, or it may be used against you.)

The above describes some of my work experiences during my employment, provided for reference to those considering applying for an interview. I am unclear about the current situation, so please consider it carefully.