Editor’s note: The following translated article from gcpnews.com delves into Chinese attitudes towards the importance of money vs. personal freedom and health. While the topic isn’t a new one, it has been reignited by the Chinese media after it was claimed that a young woman employed at PricewaterhouseCoopers in China recently died because she was worked to death. The results of a survey about the topic soon afterwards shows less than encouraging results.

A recent post on Sina Weibo stating that a 25 year old female employee at PricewaterhouseCoopers was worked to death, has been forwarded by thousands of netizens within a short period of time. PricewaterhouseCoopers’s auditing department verified that the new employee – who had only been working there for half a year – did indeed die of an illness; however they denied that her cause of death was related to overworking.

The deceased employee frequently complained about being busy at work on her micro blog, saying that she never had time to rest. “In heaven, you never have to work overtime day in and day out until late at night again,” posted one grieving friend of hers on Weibo (April 14, Xinmin Wanbao). In actual fact, issues related to the importance of higher pay, freedom or health, are something that have always been occupying the minds of Chinese workers. Shortly after news of the young woman’s death broke out, 51job.com, a popular Chinese job site, published a survey which showed that 80% of Chinese workers would be willing to trade in their freedom for a higher salary.

Netizens willing to break their backs for money

“Would you work in a job that paid 10,000 RMB a month (after tax), but that came with immense pressure, a working day of at least 10 hours every day and constantly waking up crying at night?” 71% of those who took the survey answered: “Of course I would, as long as they treat me well.”

“Would you exchange ten years of your life for 5 million RMB?” 52% of people surveyed said: “Yes, preferably in cash!”

“When your high-paying job conflicts with your personal freedom, what would you choose?” After much thought, 79% of people questioned chose “high salary”.

This recent survey by 51job.com shows that the majority of those who took part in the survey would be willing to break their backs for money. From these results, it seems that Chinese people think money is more important than personal health, ten years of life and a freedom.

People who chose “high salary” represent an overwhelming majority and the statistic of 79% is more convincing than any possible argument. 51job.com’s survey also discovered that the people who chose “high salary” over personal freedom and health are forced to do so by the reality of their situation. “Look at the price of housing; look at the price of commodities…if you want to survive in a city, what else can workers trade in for higher pay? We only possess our youth, health and freedom.” One netizen commented.

Only 20% of people chose freedom for lower pay

The 21% of people who chose freedom and lower pay when their high-paying job clashes with freedom, believe that having control over their own life is the most important thing. In an online post, netizen Zhong Xiaoyan said, “I’ve experienced this situation whereby a high-paying job resulted in the loss of personal freedom. Perhaps some people would use the family as an excuse to overwork, but these people don’t understand what is really important to the family. Do kids really need luxurious toys? Does the wife really need designer clothes? Do old people really need top class supplements? None of these things are as important as being there with your family, enjoying the happiness of family unity.”

Expert warns not to harm health for the sake of higher pay

None of us are willing to give up high pay or freedom. As many netizens said: “A high-salary is well and good, but the price of health is even higher. How to choose one over the other is actually a crucial question that must be given deep thought.” 

An expert at 51job.com explained that while it isn’t wrong to pursue a high-salary job, one cannot offset gains if one values high-salary over every thing including one’s health and life. Life and work go hand-in-hand; it’s unlikely that we can first earn money and then compensate for losses in our life. “If you don’t have much money, then it’s fine to just be more frugal.”

Source: gcpnews.com
 

Related links
How Social Trends are Fuelling Workaholism in China
Workers Contemplate Fleeing Chinese Metropolises under Mounting Pressure
Suicides at Foxconn Reveal Woes

Warning：The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.

Keywords: Chinese attitudes to higher pay PricewaterhouseCoopers employee worked to death Worked to death China