[sbowra]

I must say I am totally confused with the Hong Kong working culture myself.

My husband is in a senior position of the architectural firm, but not the director or assosiate levels. Ever since he joined the company, there was one Hong Kong staff who are about 1 level more senior than him got intimidated because my husband is a white european.

My husband once discovered that his report that he put on the director's in-tray was trown out by this guy who intentionally stayed late to do that, purely because my husband's report was done in the next to perfection, covers all the aspect that should have been covered by this guy himself. Instead of trying to improve himself, he sets out to try to get rid of my husband in more ways than one. By the way my husband found out about the above incident because he happened to forget the key, so he went back to the office. My husband did not confront him though.

My husband also had to basically go over this guy's head and got the job signed off by the client in the first 3 weeks of his starting date (he did it because one of the directors advice him to do so). By doing that it makes this guy looks pretty bad because he prefers to play along and drink tea with the client wasting company's time rather than stand up to the client and get the job signed off and the company gets pay quickly.

My husband has come to the end of his probation period and was shocked to find that the company wants to extend his probation period for another month! They can not give a clear reason to him of why.

This can't be right because he has done a good job for the company in his opinion, although he has to cross one of the senior staffs to get it done right. I'm not sure this is a common thing in Hong Kong that they can just extend the probation period, just like that. All of the directors favour my husband so far and see his potential in the company but I think it might be something to do with all of the management team needs to agree if someone should pass his probation period or not. Also it can not be because my husband doesn't do his job properly or has not got enough work to proof himself. The only thing this gu has is that he works there a bit longer than my husband and he is chinese. Where does my husband stand on this?

[PDLM]

He's made the mistake of crossing someone who, for whatever reason, is close to the big boss. Rule #1 of HK offices, make very sure you understand who has the ear of the Big Boss before you do or say anything negative against anyone. Close relationships outweigh competence here.

[sbowra]

Well, he went to the director and he said he doesn't know anything about it and he will investigate the matter. I still think this is a bully at work. please don't forget my husband follows the director's advise to do that and the director did say he doesn't think this guy is any good! So I don't know if he's trying to cover himself or what? I also think evenif its a Hong Kong way, you can not deny it is unprofessional way of conducting the business. I feel that my husband was bullied. He followed the director's advice so he will cross someone anyway either the director or the senior. I must add, it a heart broken thing to have to be below someone who is not very good at his job. You know what I mean, I'm sure.