“With a bachelor’s degree, you want weekends off?” Recruiter’s remark sparks outrage

A normal job interview chat in China has gone viral online and got a lot of people talking. It raised questions about work culture and basic worker rights.

Many young workers already work long hours and get very little time off. So, when a recruiter said a few lines during the interview, it hit a nerve and started a nationwide discussion.

This incident shows how even small work conversations can reflect bigger problems. It also points out the gap between what workers expect and what some companies actually give, even for something as simple as weekends off.

The interview that made headlines

As reported by the South China Morning Post, the incident came to public attention on January 18 when a job applicant from Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region shared screenshots of a conversation online.

The chat was on Boss Zhipin, a Chinese online recruitment platform. During the conversation, the recruiter asked, “Can you come for an interview tomorrow afternoon?” The applicant replied, “I am still considering other opportunities. I cannot really accept a job without weekends off.”

This response triggered a strong reaction from the recruiter.

Recruiter’s remarks spark outrage

According to the screenshots, the recruiter laughed and said, “With just a bachelor’s degree and you expect weekends off?”

As per the report, the recruiter then added, “You are already on the blacklist. You will not be allowed to interview with us in the future.”

These comments quickly went viral on social media, prompting widespread criticism.

About the company and the recruiter

According to the report, the recruiter was identified as a senior HR and administrative manager, surnamed Kai, at China Life Insurance Company Limited.

China Life was founded in 2003 and is based in Beijing. It is one of the largest state-owned insurance companies in the country.

As per the company’s 2024 annual report, China Life employs 98,689 people, including 7,586 with postgraduate degrees and 71,710 with bachelor’s degrees. The position applied for by the candidate was not disclosed, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

Platform and employer respond

On January 19, Boss Zhipin issued a statement saying the recruiter had made inappropriate remarks and had received a formal warning.

The following day, a staff member from China Life confirmed that the matter was under investigation.

Social media reacts strongly

According to the report, the conversation sparked widespread debate online. Many criticized the recruiter’s attitude and the idea that education level should determine basic employee rights.

One user wrote, “Why are workers making life harder for other workers? Putting people on a blacklist, what a power trip.”

Another said, “You’re just an HR employee, not the boss. Stop siding with capitalists. What is wrong with wanting weekends off? If your company does not offer them, plenty of others do.”

A third user commented, “Having two days off is a basic labour right and it has nothing to do with education levels. At its core, this is just another way companies exploit workers.”
Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)