Story 3 : Young Worker – Staying positive through WeSupport lessons and Wechat ’ s social functions
When Bi Xinlian was 13 years old she boldly decided to quit school and head off to the east coast to search for work . Leaving behind her hometown in Sichuan Province she found work in a small family-operated workshop that resembled something of a plastic factory . Working at such a young age coupled with her lack of schooling influenced her performance at work and her sense of discipline .
Now 24 years old , Xinlian recalls skipping work shifts to hang out with friends whenever she felt tired . The friendships she made were clearly an important influence in her life . When in 2009 she decided to head for China ' s manufacturing hub Dongguan , it was her friends who introduced her to the assembly line position she still holds today . Carving out new friendship circles was just as important to her in Dongguan as it was in Fujian , and with most workers around the same age as her , she had no problems finding a peer group to share her favorite past-times with : shopping and hanging out .
When Xinlian had a baby she moved out from the factory into a rented apartment nearby , but being a major breadwinner , she felt out of options when it came to daycare . With no job opportunities in her hometown in Sichuan , she made the difficult decision of leaving her baby girl with her parents . Knowing that she could only make the 36-hour journey back to her hometown once a year , WeChat quickly became the best tool for connecting and interacting with the family .
Xinlian taught her father , who is the only mobile phone user in her family , how to use messaging , video chat and the “ Moments ” function in WeChat , so that she is kept posted about the family ' s wellbeing . Although Xinlian doesn ’ t have a good data plan , she always saves enough data to talk to her family and exchange photos . Since she is under a lot of pressure work , WeChat public account providing funny video clips , entertainment gossip and Tencent News are among her favorites .
Xinlian was introduced to the young worker lessons through her factory ’ s WeChat public account . She thinks that unlike the other eLearning courses , the Young Worker lessons depict real life situations through comic strips , and give practical instructions and advice to young workers about communication , conflicts resolution , stress relief and such . Xinlian is especially inspired by the tips on “ how to stay positive ”: “ I was very young when I started working and lived alone by myself . I remember I was desperate to maintain a good relationship with colleagues at work . However , conflicts did happened and I lost my temper . I didn ’ t know who to talk to . My then boyfriend ( now husband ) was my only comfort . As I grew up and after reading the posts , I realized that a positive and encouraging attitude is very important at work . If we helped and respected each other at work , we could all be happier and more efficient , and even earn more money . It is a win-win strategy . I hope I can be the sunshine of my line , where I can shine through the dark moments and provide my fellow colleagues with rays of happiness during the long work hours .”
When conflicts happen , Xinlian learned to first calm herself down , think from the other party ’ s perspective as suggested by “ How to deal with conflicts and criticism ”, and to not say angry words out of impulse . She says snacks have become her weapon against negative thoughts .
As for future plans , Xinlian would like to continue working in this factory for 1-2 more years , then go back to her hometown to have a second baby . “ Then I would consider working in a restaurant or a shopping mall near my home as my parents are getting older and I do not want to leave my two babies with them .”
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