Firm promises ‘bedtime stories’ to overworked staff

During the madness of the Singles’ Day shopping event, many e-commerce platforms provided perks and extras for stressed employees. Some of them ranged between disappointing and creepy. This one was both.

A company in Hebei Province that promised its predominately male staff of IT technicians it would recruit “50 beautiful women” to “tell them bedtime stories” apparently didn’t come through.

Contrary to expectations, the workers were treated to stories read through computerized female voice generators, media reported Tuesday.

Posts show the company had required its workers to remain on-call at the office for 72 hours straight during the massive Double 11 sales event.

As an incentive, the firm said they would hire 50 beautiful women to read the employees “bedtime stories” through a livestreamed audio platform to lull them to sleep while on breaks during the three-day shift.

“The women will be on stand-by for 72 hours, just like you,” read a notice from the unidentified company on November 8.

A photo of several women being interviewed at their offices was posted to an employee WeChat group.

However, employees were upset to later find the company had sampled the women’s voices for a voice synthesis program, media reported.

The company’s HR employee said using the program was a practical solution.

“Work schedules during Singles’ Day are erratic and unpredictable; using AI voice actors allows our staff to listen to them at any time,” the employee said.

Chutian Metropolis Daily