In a shocking turn of events, Qu Jing, a vice president at Chinese search giant Baidu, has been terminated from her position after a series of viral videos surfaced showing her dictatorial management approach. The videos, widely circulated on social media platforms such as Douyin, revealed Qu berating and dismissing her subordinates in a highly unprofessional manner, sparking a major public relations crisis.

The Wall Street Journal initially reported on one of the videos where Qu can be seen shouting at a colleague struggling with a recent breakup, stating, "I'm not your mother-in-law. I'm not your mom. I only care about your results." Another video showed Qu reprimanding a subordinate for not wanting to work on weekends, and dismissing a complaint about her late-night work messages disturbing an employee's crying child.

The most bizarre video shows Qu beating a paper cutout symbolizing the China Morning Post, after it published negative news about her. This video only added fuel to the fire, exacerbating the criticism she faced from the public. As the videos went viral, Qu attempted damage control by replacing them with an apology video, admitting her lack of patience and poor management approach.

Baidu's CEO, Robin Li, reportedly became infuriated with Qu as public outrage soared. The Journal's sources indicate that Li made the decision to terminate Qu from her position in response to the backlash. People familiar with the matter described Qu's comments as inappropriate and not representative of Baidu's true culture and values. Baidu management has committed to an internal review of its corporate culture in light of the incident.

In a statement released on Friday, Baidu's head of human resources acknowledged that the company has internal issues, including excessive work hours. However, they also emphasized Baidu's dedication to self-improvement.

Qu's controversial management style drew significant backlash, particularly from the younger generation of workers in China who are seeking a departure from the country's demanding workplace culture. The incident serves as an example of what the Communist Party-controlled Youth Daily called "wolf culture" - a reflection of the country's market economy. This prompted a counterattack by the public, demanding for a change in management practices.

The negative press surrounding Baidu led to a decline in the company's shares. In the US, shares dropped by over 6%, while in Hong Kong, they declined by 3% during this week. Representatives from Baidu have not responded to requests for comment from various news outlets.

This incident has shed light on the need for a shift in China's corporate culture, with many urging for reforms that prioritize employee well-being and work-life balance. As the repercussions continue to ripple through the industry, the case of Qu Jing serves as a stern warning for companies to address their internal issues and adapt to the changing expectations of the workforce.