M’sian Employee Closes Eyes to Gather Thoughts at Office, Gets Warning Letter for “Sleeping” On the Job

A Malaysian employee who had worked at the same company for 12 years has opened up about their experience following a change in management, describing the arrival of a new Managing Director (MD) as the beginning of their “nightmare”.

In an anonymous confession, the employee claimed the new MD’s management style was heavily focused on micromanagement, leaving employees with little to no room to voice differing opinions and making them feel as though they were expected to simply say “yes” to everything.

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Employees face warning letters over “minor mistakes”

Under the new MD’s leadership, the employee said they began feeling increasingly “helpless”, especially after receiving two warning letters over what they described as minor issues.

They claimed the new MD expected employees to obey without questioning his decisions, creating a highly stressful work environment through constant micromanagement.

The employee shared:

“I started feeling that what he wanted were employees who would obey without questioning or challenging him. He gets involved in almost everything, from finance, sales, and management to even the smallest office matters, creating an incredibly stressful work environment.

“From what I understand, the company also provides him with a comprehensive expatriate benefits package, including transport, accommodation, and his children’s education. Yet at the same time, he constantly tells us the company isn’t making money, and that business is poor, with much of the blame ultimately falling on the sales department.”

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The employee also shared that one of the warning letters accused them of “sleeping during working hours“, even though they insisted they had only been sitting at their desk with their eyes closed while organising their thoughts.

They shared:

“The first warning letter came last month after I applied for emergency leave (EL). He claimed I hadn’t followed company procedures, but I honestly felt he didn’t even understand the difference between emergency leave (EL) and annual leave (AL).

“The second warning letter came after I was seen sitting at my desk with my eyes closed last Friday. I was simply trying to organise my thoughts, but it was interpreted as sleeping during working hours.”

“We no longer know what the company wants”

The employee also claimed that staff were constantly criticised and dismissed, leaving many feeling worn down and gradually losing confidence.

“Under his leadership, he always seems convinced that his decisions are right, while the opinions of frontline employees are rarely heard. Even the smallest mistake at work can result in a warning letter.

“I’ve worked here for 12 years, earning a salary that isn’t particularly high, yet it feels like I’m trading my dignity just to keep this job. Many overseas clients we had built strong relationships with were reassigned to the headquarters, leaving us with fewer and fewer accounts to manage.”

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The employee added that the new management had left many staff feeling lost, saying they no longer knew what the company actually wanted.

“Every day, I have to deal with my own emotional struggles while carrying the pressure of work. I’ve thought about resigning countless times, but at my age, finding a new job isn’t easy.

“I have elderly family members to care for and children to raise. There’s also my mortgage, car loan, and medical bills to pay every month. So no matter how difficult it gets, I have no choice but to keep going. For now, all I can do is persevere while quietly looking for another job, hoping a better opportunity comes along. I also hope that one day I’ll work under a manager who truly values employees and treats them with respect.”

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Also read: “Bloody dumb” – M’sian Manager Allegedly Scolds Staff on MC, Tells Her to Open Store & Wait for Replacement