Xiaomi is facing scrutiny following reports in China alleging the company has been quietly pushing its employees to work excessive overtime. A post on Maimai, a LinkedIn-like service popular in China, claims that Xiaomi requires staff to clock at least 11.5 hours a day.
Those whose logged hours fall below 8 are allegedly asked to submit written explanations. And employees who consistently rank low in total working hours are reportedly subject to internal interviews, and in some cases, are pressured to resign.
What’s more concerning is that several Xiaomi employees confirmed these claims to Jiupai News, a Chinese media outlet. Inside accounts from employees suggest the situation varies depending on the department.
One employee from the company’s mobile phone division said each team seems to operate with its own baseline. In some groups, the minimum daily working hours are set at 10.5. While in others, it goes as high as 14 or 15 hours a day. Their own team reportedly operates with a 12.5-hour requirement.
According to Jiupai News, these expectations are not formally documented. Managers reportedly deliver them verbally to avoid leaving a paper trail.
A Xiaomi employee based in Shanghai told Jiupai News that their department enforces an 11.5-hour average, effectively creating a 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. workday.
Another employee, based in Jiangsu, claimed their team operates on a 12-hour schedule. Even then, they said, “the leader called me out because of my low ranking” in comparison to colleagues.
Taking leave can trigger overtime penalties
The system reportedly also penalizes employees for taking leave. According to several accounts, even a single day off in a month can drag the average daily working hours below 8, which triggers additional scrutiny. Workers are then expected to make up the time by staying late on other days.
Perhaps more concerning is how long this has reportedly been going on. One employee told Jiupai News that Xiaomi has been operating this way for nearly two years. The only thing new is the public attention.
And the consequences for failing to meet expectations aren’t minor. One employee said they were required to submit a written reflection after logging fewer than 10.5 hours. In Beijing, another said that those who continue to rank low in work hours face warnings from management, and if things don’t change, their performance evaluation may be impacted.
Outsourced staff appear to face even stricter enforcement. One contract worker said that their department mandates exactly 11 hours of work each day, not averaged, but counted per day. If they work less than that, they’re called in the next morning. If it happens repeatedly, they risk immediate termination.
Xiaomi has yet to make an official comment on the situation.
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