Sometimes the boss calls you over, and when that happens, it can’t be something good, right? Right??

With regards to China, “Big Brother” is often a topic of discussion in the west. But don’t forget about good old-fashioned sharp ears in the workplace!

Working overtime in China is a tricky thing… sometimes expected, sometimes not. Sometimes mandatory, sometimes not. And apparently, sometimes fakes, sometimes not!

The subject of little white lies continues. But who can tell when Chinese co-workers aren’t really being sincere?

Ah, little lies told to the boss about reasons for being late… Don’t be shocked that this happens in Chinese offices too.

So “Whats-his name,” the intern, is now the manager. But it might not be so easy to drop the old habits and establish new ones, which can be AWKward…

Ah, the infamous intercultural misunderstanding… You might be surprised at how little many Chinese know about American Thanksgiving (and how this actually can impact business!).

So the intern is now a manager… but without a whole lot of (non-coffee-pouring) work experience, it would seem that he still has a bit to learn about human nature.

If you followed our story through Season 3, the intern, “Whats-his name,” has inexplicably been promoted directly to a manager position. And yes… hijinks ensue.

Shocking revelations of the intern kind! We hope we didn’t upset you too much. See how this all turns out in Season 4, coming soon…

All internships must come to an end… but how will this one end? (Hopefully not before you’ve mastered the word 实习!) Stay tuned…

Pay attention… the intrigue we’ve begun this week will carry over into next week and even Season 4!

Seeing and hearing… yes, there is a difference. At the office.

Is this “早点“ thing a realistic misunderstanding? Maybe not, but it’s not impossible. (Think of it as a little Chinese language puzzle!)

Everyone says that “relationships” are key to business in China. Yes, that’s true, but don’t forget that there’s a downside as well as an upside!

尴尬 (gāngà): It’s a weird two-character word, but it’s a very useful concept, and certainly applicable to any office!!

“All things in moderation” is a Chinese concept, right? But does it apply to coffee??

Email and coffee: that pretty much sums up office life, right?

OK, we’re on a bit of a coffee kick lately… it’s almost as if we’re addicted.

Where there’s a sneeze, there must be a cold coming on, right? And in China, where there’s a cold, there’s the always-welcome advice to drink lots of hot water.