Insights from a HYBE Employee on Workplace Culture and Allegations

Recent developments have cast a spotlight on the work environment at HYBE, particularly following distressing allegations surrounding workplace conditions and the tragic death of a former employee. During the National Assembly audit on October 15, ADOR’s CEO Kim Joo-young, who has previously served as the Human Resources Chief, acknowledged the concerning incident where an employee was discovered unwell in one of the company’s restrooms in 2022. Unfortunately, the individual passed away days later while in the hospital.

Progressive Party representative Jeong Hye-kyung suggested that HYBE may have concealed the circumstances surrounding the employee’s death, attributing it to overwork and exhaustion. However, Kim Joo-young countered these claims, asserting that with the approval of the bereaved family, the incident was not classified as a workplace death.

Revelations on Work Culture from a Current Employee

On November 8, an interview published by Biz Hankook featured a current employee at HYBE, who provided insight into the demanding work culture that has reportedly prevailed within the organization since before the COVID-19 pandemic. While the employee did not disclose their specific label, they articulated a deeply troubling atmosphere that appears to contribute to employee stress.

“Because I experienced it too. It was when COVID was at its peak, and my teammates and I were saying, ‘I’d rather get COVID.’ It was so hard,” the employee recounted.

The employee expressed their belief that the 2022 incident could directly relate to the organization’s exhaustive demands. They depicted a workplace with no consistent working hours, highlighting that schedules often extend into the early morning hours.

“It was a structure where we had no choice but to produce at dawn. After work finished around 5 or 6 in the morning, it was common to go home and rest. However, even then, we couldn’t leave if revisions were needed,” they explained.

This culture of relentless demands persisted despite the introduction of a 52-hour workweek policy, which has faced inconsistencies across different labels. This lack of uniformity meant that while some employees received compensation for overtime, others did not.

The interview also touched on the challenges associated with project approvals from management, which the employee described as frustrating and inefficient:

“Approval from above kept not coming, but there was no clear reason. I lost 10 kg in weight within a month,” they shared.

When discussing the potential awareness of HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk regarding these work conditions, the employee commented on the stark differences in operational practices between labels led by Bang and those not directly managed by him.

“The system is a bit different. I don’t know if Chairman Bang Si-hyuk knew the situation at the time, but there is definitely a difference between labels that he is directly involved in,” they noted.

Changes in Policy and Current Work Environment

In light of these revelations, it’s noteworthy that as of January 1, 2021, HYBE implemented a company-wide 52-hour workweek allowing employees more freedom to structure their schedules. This policy aimed to facilitate better commuting and provide work-from-home options.

Additionally, an unlimited annual leave policy has been introduced, which allows employees to take vacations at any time, with a financial incentive of 500,000 KRW awarded upon utilizing all statutory paid leaves.

As the situation continues to evolve, Rep. Jeong Hye-kyung is pursuing further documentation regarding the reported workplace death. However, as a private company, HYBE is not mandated to comply with such requests, and to date, there has been no indication that the company intends to submit additional records.

For more detailed insights and developments, please refer to the source here.