Singapore — A compilation of scathing reviews and feedback on the workplace environment at Shopee Singapore is making rounds on social media, highlighting toxic, racist and sexist incidents within the company.
Facebook page Wake Up, Singapore has recently shared insights into what goes on at the Shopee workplace.
On Thursday (Nov 25), the page posted a compilation of reviews by ex-Shopee employees.
One of the reviews was about a hiring manager interviewing a Malay person.
“So as I can see here, you’re Malay… as you know, 70 per cent of the population here is Chinese. Do you think you will have a problem talking to these merchants, especially old auntie or uncle shops, to tell them about the shopeepay service?” the hiring manager was quoted.
“I ask that because you’re a guy and historically speaking, ‘your kind’ is the least performing race in Shopee. Not trying to be the ‘r’ word, but statistically speaking, the top-performing salespeople here are… pretty Chinese girls with cutesy voices, you know?” the hiring manager allegedly added.
Another review mentioned that there was no work-life balance in the company. “If you enjoy your work, you wouldn’t need to chase for work-life balance,” a Shopee staff was quoted saying.
“Since we’re young (new recruits), overtime is not a big problem. Good to hustle while you’re young,” the individual added.
In another post on Friday (Nov 26), Wake Up, Singapore shared an anonymous testimony from another former employee highlighting the sexist behaviour of a business developer in the company.
“I listened to him (the business developer) go on about how the females working for him are his ‘slaves’, and he regularly comments on the female staff’s bodies – to their faces,” the individual said.
“He will even stalk and display the girls’ social media photos on his work computer and ask the guys in the office to discuss her looks and ask ‘want not?’”
More recently, the page shared a statement by podcaster Dzar Ismail from Ok Lets Go, plans to assemble a legal team to help address the allegations.
Mr Dzar said his account has been receiving the same concerns, such as a man’s wife who was previously employed at Shopee and was the only “Malay hijab lady.”
“What’s very concerning is that whenever there was a meeting, the manager would converse in Chinese and expect her colleagues to translate.”
The manager had allegedly said in English, “This is a Chinese majority company, don’t expect us to speak English just so you people can understand.”
Worse still, the colleagues did not translate, resulting in the woman leaving the company after a month, the individual shared.
In response to the allegations, Shopee took to Instagram on Saturday (Nov 27), noting it was investigating the issue.
“We are aware of the recent allegations that have surfaced. Shopee Singapore takes these allegations very seriously. We have zero-tolerance for discrimination or any form of workplace harassment and are conducting a thorough investigation of the situation. We are committed to providing a safe workplace for all our employees,” said Shopee. /TISG
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