A FOREIGN-FUNDED company was ordered by the Nanshan People s Court to make a public apology and pay compensation of 15,000 yuan (US$2,308) for forcing three employees to bark like dogs.
The Chloride (Shenzhen) Electronics Co. chooses exemplary employees of the month to speak for five minutes in front of the workers meeting.
But the routine was challenged by three workers in August last year when Liu Chengdong, Li Suguo and Tao Nengwen of the manufacturing department were unable to deliver good speeches.
The Taiwanese manager Zhang Hongyi forced the three workers to make barking sounds in front of other employees.
The employees filed an application for a hearing to the city labor arbitration authority, demanding the company compensate them for humiliation. But the two sides failed to reach reconciliation after mediation by the labor authority.
The company did not punish Zhang, but it warned him to improve his attitude toward employees.
The incident led to a protest by employees which caused the dismissal of dozens of workers and forced the company to create a better working environment.
The court said the demand by Zhang had greatly undermined the workers dignity.
(Han Ximin, Justin Chen)
