According to Yang, “I had just started an internship and noticed my supervisor constantly bullying my co-worker in the workplace. The abuse were often physical. I confronted him about his behaviour but I felt his explanation was insincere. I fear that his appalling behaviour would continue should I not be around to witness it. There is no justification for hitting someone!
The supervisor was also constantly yelling at my co-worker for minor mistakes. The hitting and yelling stopped when I confronted him but this kind of behaviour has most likely been going on even before I joined, and will again continue after I leave.
When I confronted him, he brought me to a meeting room and his “explanation” he told me a lot of BS like “do not judge a book by its cover, there is a story behind it”. He said that my colleague apparently has an inferiority complex and apparently my supervisor is trying to “nurture” him to get over it. I felt this was stupid, as how can you nurture someone by hitting them?
The abuse seemed to get worse over time during my first 3 days, on the 3rd day I quickly decided to start recording with my phone when the supervisor started to yell again at my coworker.”
The video has received much attention over the last few days and has elicited many enraged and sympathetic comments. According to reports on the internet, the incident has been reported to the company’s HR department, the police and the Ministry of Manpower, who are investigating/resolving the case.
As per the Shin Min Daily News, parents of the 29 year old being hit, confronted the supervisor at the office. During an hour long discussion, the supervisor apologised continuously but the parents were not convinced and refused to accept his apologies. They are seeking $100,000 in compensation.
The father of the boy stated - “He is my only son, and to get abused when he’s being paid so little breaks my heart.”
He also mentioned that his son is paid up to SGD 600 per month, works from 9AM to 11PM, is constantly stressed and has trouble sleeping.
When asked, the intern told a Wanbao reporter that he did not leave the job as he liked it very much and learned many new things while at it. He also said that he felt like he could not leave because there were always projects that he had to finish.
Despite that, the intern had tried to resign once in 2012 but was told not to leave as the office was short-handed When he asked for a pay raise, he was told by his supervisor that his performance was not up to scratch and that he did not have enough experience.
The company where the incident occurred is Encore eServices in Jurong East. The company was registered in April 2012, and designs management software for private clinics. The supervisor is only identified as a person named Alan.
Two former interns at the firm were contacted by the press and they said they “worked in fear” during their internship with Encore, and had to endure scolding sessions which would last for hours.
One woman who quit after two months said - “He listed down all my mistakes and made me feel worthless. I broke down in tears a few times.” Another quit after nine weeks and mentioned that Alan was always threatening to terminate her contract.
