HRBlunders.com » china

Faking photos forces firing

Fred Hosier — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:00:30 +0000

When it comes to employee discipline, this is how it’s supposed to work: Taking action against one worker for wrongdoing discourages others from trying the same thing.

But when it comes to faking pictures of animals in China, that’s not been the case.

China has fired several government officials and arrested another man in connection with fake photos of a highly endangered tiger.

A farmer produced the photos of a South China tiger in a forest, supposedly proving the endangered animal’s existence in northern Shaanxi province. He received 20,000 yuan (almost $3,000) for the photo.

Nine months later, officials admitted the photos were faked, according to reports in the Chinese state media.

The farmer faces fraud charges. Thirteen local government officials were shown the door, including the deputy head of the province’s forestry bureau.

This is just one of several major scandals involving official endorsement of photos of wildlife in recent years.

Earlier this year, the editor of a Chinese newspaper quit after one of its photographers faked a prize-winning photo of endangered Tibetan antelopes.

And HRB told you earlier this year the story of faked pigeon photos.

There’s no truth to the rumor that this current fraud will be made into a film, Cropping Tiger, Fired Deputy.

Chinese policewoman promoted after nursing babies orphaned in quake

Fred Hosier — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:00:42 +0000

A Chinese policewoman who breastfed babies orphaned during May’s earthquake has been promoted to vice commissar of the Jiangyou Public Security Bureau.

Jiang Xiaojuan left her own baby with her parents and took part in disaster relief work, breastfeeding nine babies, according to the Xinhua news agency.

Her volunteer work earned her the name “the police mum” in the Chinese media.

More than 69,000 people died in the May 12, 2008 quake.

And to show that no good deed goes unpunished, when the Jiangyou government sought public opinion after promoting the officer, many protested the move online, saying that promotions should be awarded on merit, not merely for good deeds.

Others supported her, saying what she did was the sign of a good public servant.

They think government officials drinking on the job is a good idea?

Fred Hosier — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:00:22 +0000

At least you can understand their argument: Liquor makers in a China province want government workers to be allowed to drink alcoholic beverages during their lunch breaks.

Given the choice, you would probably prefer that your workers not drink alcohol during breaks, right?

In China’s Henan province, liquor makers plan to go to court to fight a law banning government workers from drinking alcohol at lunch during work days.

The ban is just over a year old (so before that they could drink on the job?). More than 100 civil servants were reprimanded for ignoring it, showing, at least, that the province is serious about enforcing the ban.

Restaurants complain their lunchtime business has taken a hit since the ban went into effect.

A lawyer representing the Henan Alcohol Association says people holding public office should be able to drink at lunch as long as it doesn’t affect their work.

As per usual, there are at least two sides to every argument, according to China’s state media.

Some are applauding the ban. One person claims government workers’ efficiency and diligence dropped after they drank together at lunch.

Gee, ya think?