Comparing Work Cultures: Guangzhou/Shenzhen vs. Hangzhou
After four years working in China, both full-time and part-time, across five companies in Guangzhou and two in Hangzhou, I've noticed a significant difference in employee benefits and work culture between these two major cities. My experiences, including accompanying clients for translation work, have led me to believe that Guangzhou and Shenzhen generally offer more attractive compensation and perks compared to Hangzhou. It's also possible that the distinct nature of the industries I've worked in contributes to these disparities.
Industry Focus and Work Hours
In Guangzhou, my work primarily centered around the gaming and app development sectors within IT companies. My Hangzhou experience, conversely, has been more focused on e-commerce businesses.
Workdays in Guangzhou typically lasted around 7 to 7.5 hours. Most companies enjoyed weekends off, with work starting around 9:30-10 AM and finishing by 6-6:30 PM. Lunch breaks were usually a generous 1.5 to 2 hours. Attendance tracking was often flexible, with either no check-in required or a grace period of about 30 minutes, allowing check-ins via phone within a 200-500 meter radius of the office.
In Hangzhou, with the exception of major tech giants like Alibaba, ByteDance, and NetEase, which offer more flexibility but demand significant overtime, many e-commerce companies maintain stricter policies on working hours. These companies also require considerable overtime. Both my previous and current employers in Hangzhou mandate a strict 8-hour workday, from 9 AM to 6 PM, with a one-hour lunch break. Attendance is tracked through facial recognition at the office entrance. Unfortunately, even arriving on time hasn't always saved me from being late due to elevator queues. My current company allows three instances of being less than 5 minutes late per month. Beyond that, lateness deducts from KPIs and salary. Exceeding 15 instances of lateness in a quarter can even lead to termination. Fortunately, I was mentally prepared for these stricter rules, as my previous company had similar policies, making the adjustment relatively smooth. The initial shock upon returning to Hangzhou from Guangzhou in 2023 was intense, and I seriously considered moving back.
Employee Perks and Benefits
Companies in Guangzhou and Shenzhen generally offer excellent benefits. Most companies provide afternoon tea weekly and attendance bonuses for punctuality and no absences. Gifts during holidays are also quite generous. Even in my part-time remote role, the company consistently sent substantial gifts on every holiday. For the Dragon Boat Festival, I received a complete camping chair and trolley set.
Hangzhou companies do provide benefits, but they often feel more like a token gesture. While holiday gifts are given, they are usually symbolic, focusing on the sentiment rather than substantial material value. My current company offers an attendance bonus of only 100 yuan. They also provide weekly afternoon tea in the form of a bubble tea, something my previous company didn't even offer. In contrast, afternoon tea in Guangzhou was a vibrant affair with a wide variety of treats.
These are my general observations on these two aspects. I'd love to hear about your experiences working in these cities in the comments below. If anyone asks me for a recommendation, I'd still suggest Guangzhou or Shenzhen. They have a thriving IT sector with ample job opportunities, and the diverse workforce fosters an open and comfortable environment. Living expenses, including rent, food, and daily life, are also more affordable. Furthermore, entry-level and fresher positions tend to offer higher salaries compared to Hangzhou.
Accompanying this is a picture of Alibaba's headquarters. It was during my work that I realized my company was located opposite Alibaba's main office. Looking at the red statue, I'm unsure of its intended meaning, but to me, it evokes images of employees utterly exhausted and overcome by the demands of capitalism.
Source: Vườn Khoai Lang (Shared for its helpfulness)
