Overworked staff angered by China education tycoon’s anniversary letter from Antarctica
Founder of company waxes lyrical about the survival qualities of penguins, sparking sarcastic responses from staff, online observers
Chinese education giant New Oriental has ignited online controversy after its founder posted an internal message from his holiday in Antarctica while employees were reportedly frustrated with long working hours.
The message from Yu Minhong, which was designed to mark the company’s 32nd anniversary, has been slammed as self-serving and tone deaf.
New Oriental was founded in 1993 in Beijing and began as a provider of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) test preparation and tutoring.
It successfully went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2006.
In recent years, the company has moved into the online e-commerce business.
While he was travelling in Antarctica, Yu wrote: “At this moment, I stand amid the icy, snowy world of Antarctica. Surrounding me are vast whiteness, emerald icebergs and boundless tranquillity.”
Yu went on to share the frustrations and despair he experienced throughout his entrepreneurial journey.