Staff Upset After Chinese Education Tycoon Sends Anniversary Letter From Antarctica
New Oriental, one of China’s most influential education companies, found itself at the centre of online debate after its founder, Yu Minhong, sent an anniversary letter to employees from his holiday in Antarctica. Instead of inspiring pride or nostalgia, the message drew criticism from staff who said they were already overloaded with work and felt the tone of the letter showed a disconnect between leadership and reality.
The company was marking its thirty second anniversary, a milestone that reflected decades of influence in tutoring, test preparation and more recently digital commerce. But what should have been a moment of unity quickly shifted into a public conversation about overwork, leadership style and the changing expectations of Chinese employees.
The Origins and Rise of New Oriental
New Oriental was founded in 1993 in Beijing, beginning as a tutoring centre that helped students prepare for English language exams such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language and the Graduate Record Examinations. Over the years it became the country’s most recognised education brand. Its rapid growth eventually led to a successful listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2006, a sign of the company’s strong market influence at the time.
In more recent years, New Oriental has shifted its focus toward new sectors including online commerce and livestream based sales. The company’s transformation required intensive workloads for many employees, and staff members have repeatedly shared concerns about the long hours required to meet these evolving business demands.
The Antarctica Letter and Its Poetic Imagery
While travelling in Antarctica, Yu recorded his thoughts in a message addressed to the entire company. He described the landscape around him with dramatic detail, painting a picture of vast white fields, towering icebergs and absolute stillness. For him, the frozen continent was symbolic of the perseverance and courage required to grow a business. He reflected on his early struggles when he left Peking University and attempted to create a company from nothing, recalling countless nights of uncertainty and pressure.
Drawing from the environment around him, Yu made comparisons between New Oriental employees and the penguins he observed. He spoke of how these animals survive harsh winters by huddling together, sharing warmth and protecting each other’s young. He encouraged the team to remain united and hopeful, and to continue nurturing the company’s mission to be a source of opportunity and optimism.
Employees Respond With Sarcasm and Exhaustion
Despite the poetic tone of the message, many employees felt it failed to acknowledge the realities of their workload. Several staff members said that even on the anniversary day, they had to work late and were already exhausted by the ongoing pressure. They criticised the letter for highlighting the founder’s travel experiences while offering no concrete recognition of the intensity of their responsibilities.
One employee posted a widely shared response titled A Reply to Yu Minhong. The writer described how the founder’s mention of glistening Antarctic glaciers reminded them of the red notification dot on their phone. Each time it flashed, they said, their heart tightened, especially since late night messages from supervisors had become frequent. They commented that although they did not know what time it was in Antarctica, they were certain that they might receive a work message the moment they fell asleep.
The employee admitted that there was something touching about the founder thinking of them while standing in the icy wilderness. Yet the remark also highlighted that staff performance was clearly on his mind even during his holiday, adding to the feeling that work pressure followed them around the clock.
Broader Anger About Overwork and Inequality
The incident struck a nerve both inside and outside the company. Across China, frustration has been rising among employees in many industries, particularly those who face excessive hours or lack access to legal protections such as social insurance. Some employers have been criticised for cutting benefits to maximise profits or to maintain personal luxury lifestyles. Yu’s letter was interpreted by many as a sign of the emotional distance that can grow between wealthy founders and overstretched staff.
Online responses ranged from sarcasm to outright anger. One commenter remarked that such behaviour represented the purest form of capitalist confidence. Another asked why, if the anniversary was truly meaningful, the company did not give each employee thirty two thousand yuan to celebrate thirty two years. Others took a more sympathetic view, arguing that Yu built his empire through relentless effort and had the right to speak from his experience. They said that people unhappy with the situation could choose to become entrepreneurs themselves.
A Moment That Reveals a Larger Conversation
What began as a sentimental anniversary letter quickly grew into a discussion about leadership, empathy and the expectations modern workers have of their employers. The contrasting reactions showed how sensitive the topic of work pressure has become in China. As the economy evolves and workloads increase, many employees want recognition, balance and practical support rather than philosophical reflections from afar. Yu’s letter, though intended to uplift, instead became a reminder of how differently life can look inside the same company.
