China ‘most generous boss’ fires employee for excluding mum from wedding over looks

A boss from central China sparked online controversy after disclosing that he once fired an employee for excluding his mother from his wedding.Cui Peijun, founder and chairman of Henan Kuangshan Crane Co., Ltd. in Xinxiang, Henan province, has gained a reputation online as “China’s most generous boss.”At the annual company gala in February, Cui distributed 60 million yuan (US$8.8 million) in cash bonuses, with total year-end payouts reportedly exceeding 180 million yuan. He stated that higher pay could alleviate the financial pressures faced by young workers burdened by mortgages and car loans.Since 2004, Cui has donated more than 35 million yuan in grants to over 4,800 university students from low-income families.Since 2004, Cui has made a remarkable impact by donating over 35 million yuan to more than 4,800 university students from low-income families, showcasing his commitment to uplifting others. Photo: HandoutAccording to local media outlet Daxiang News, the company recruited 331 children of employees for a summer internship and training programme launched on July 21.During the opening ceremony, Cui emphasised the significance of filial piety, describing respect for one’s parents as “the foundation of being a decent person.”He then recounted the incident in which he fired an employee who had excluded his mother from his wedding due to embarrassment over her appearance.Cui confronted the employee, asking: “Your father died when you were two, and this is how you treat your mother?” The individual was subsequently dismissed from his position.Cui fired the employee for banning his single mother from his wedding, as Cui believes respecting parents is essential for basic decency. Photo: ShutterstockLater, the employee returned to Cui’s office, knelt down, and apologised after facing difficulties finding another job, but Cui refused to reinstate him. “I have no respect for you. I’m sorry, but you must leave,” Cui stated.After the man’s mother retired, Cui reportedly offered her a logistics position at his company with the same salary, expressing concern that her son might not support her in her later years. The woman has not publicly commented on the situation.The incident quickly gained traction online, attracting more than 24 million views on mainland social media.Many users supported Cui, asserting that the dismissal reflected the company’s values and constituted a legitimate management decision.China’s most generous boss is taking a stand for family values and views filial piety as the absolute cornerstone of decency. Photo: Handout“Someone who cannot love his parents is merely pretending to be kind to others. The company is better off without him,” remarked one netizen.Further ReadingAnother commented: “Professional skills can be taught, but gratitude and filial piety are the most fundamental standards of human decency.”Conversely, some questioned whether an employer should intervene in an employee’s personal morality.“A company may promote certain values, but filial piety is a personal matter. If the employee had executed his duties properly, terminating him may have infringed upon his labour rights,” observed one commenter.While another stated: “In a genuinely civilised society, bosses should not act as moral judges. It is the law that should ensure fairness.”