Our April Fool’s Exposé Pissed You Off. Let’s Talk About It

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Most of you probably clicked on this article after reading our April Fool’s “exposé”. In case you missed it, we fabricated situations in the office that involved our editor-in-chief “abusing” us in ridiculous ways. The article was intended to be an experiment on kneejerk reactions by netizens upon seeing sensationalised headlines without reading the article fully.

However, what transpired went beyond what we intended. Let us explain.

How did our readers react?

At first, we saw an onslaught of comments by netizens flaming our editor-in-chief. This was probably because they didn’t read the article and jumped to the most convenient conclusion.

But then we saw several commenters admit that they had a kneejerk response of anger before realising they’ve been fooled. However, while the light-hearted comments were flooding in, a different type of response started to build momentum as well.

From what was initially an experiment to test the behaviour of our readers turned into something more serious. Commenters started to express how disappointed they were with our article and how they felt we were trivialising workplace abuse. Some even went far enough as to virtually put a spell on the Cilisos team.

To our readers, we hear you and your anger is not misplaced.

Our response

Cilisos is a brand that heavily sides with victims of abuse, be it domestic, workplace or otherwise. We have proven that time and time again with numerous articles attesting to this fact. With that said, our intention was not to hurt our readers, but to demonstrate the reading behaviour of Malaysians and how readers feed off of the tragedy of others. While the article achieved its initial goal, the anger and frustration that came along with it should be addressed nonetheless.

To give a bit of background, the Cilisos team works hard in cultivating a safe and secure workplace where everyone is free to express thoughts, opinions and jokes freely. Since we are so accustomed to this workplace culture, we forget that this is a luxury that not everyone has.

Workplace abuse is a serious issue and after reading your comments, we completely understand your outrage. While our article made fake claims of abuse, there have been many instances where Malaysians have been victimised by actual abusers in the workplace. And those stories should not go unheard.

How to approach abuse in the workplace

Cilisos has always been a reliable source for news, information and solidarity. And there’s no better time to prove that than now. So, to acknowledge your concerns and the plights of those who have suffered or are suffering from workplace abuse, here are the correct ways to handle the situation.

1. Build your case.

Gathering evidence (e.g. screenshots of emails, WhatsApp messages etc.) of instances of workplace bullying and compiling it into a neat report will help your case.

2. The law can protect you, but report it to the right channels.

Employers in Malaysia are supposed to – by law – provide safe and healthy workplaces for their employees. If you’re getting abused at work, you can take it up with HR or your higher-ups, and they’re obliged to look into the matter as well as take action as needed.

If they’re twiddling their thumbs, you can file a complaint with the Department of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH).

And while verbal abuse alone isn’t punishable by law, the Penal Code comes into play when things escalate to the extreme. This applies when an employer threatens to injure you. In cases like that, don’t hesitate to go to the police.

3. Don’t post it on social media.

In this day and age, many people believe that the court of social media brings greater justice than the Federal Court. Actually, reporting to social media can damage your case and your reputation. This is because it leaves you vulnerable to defamation suits, doxxing and character assassination.

4. Prepare for moral or financial repercussions.

We’ve all heard of defamation suits. But if you’re unaware, these suits can cost up to millions of ringgit. With that said, it’s best to get a lawyer and prepare for a dent in your finances if the situation escalates.

5. Remember that you have allies.

You are not alone in what you are facing. If the reports you have made have not led to justice, express your concerns to those you believe you can trust. Be it your friends, family, the CEO, the police or the press, there are always other avenues for you to resolve your situation.

As the initial article suggests, one headline is not a true depiction of an article’s true character. Following that sentiment, one misguided April Fool’s gag is not a true depiction of Cilisos’s identity. We have and will continue to remain allies to those who are in need of a voice, and we hope that this article does not change that. We can and will do better.