This is a tragedy for the employee and those that worked with him but I hardly see this as a problem caused by Facebook. If there was a "toxic work environment" and from talking to many current facebook employees that is not what I am hearing, then he could have found a job at a different company. Unemployment in this area is at record lows and a tech person should be able to find a job in a few days if not weeks. If he jumped before he was "scheduled to undergo an intense form of internal review" maybe he knew that he was at risk based on his performance. That is just speculation but seems to make sense. I hope anyone else in this situation reaches out for help before deciding to take a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

I think more transparency of the matter and an open investigation by FB into the events leading up to his suicide and people who may be involved including his direct supervisor would clear up the confusion. Facebook may not be entirely responsible for his suicide, but they should still conduct an investigation, if only to prove their innocence. Deleting the FB account of the deceased and his profile within the company just seem like there is something FB is trying to hide.

When Facebook declines to indicate whether it will investigate, it means NO.
If the manager who bullied Qin is found guilty, Facebook can be held responsible. Of course it does not want that. Even if Facebook fires that manager, it will prefer to do it quietly.

I faced similar treatments from multiple managers but I was lucky enough to find another job. What Qin experienced is common practice.

A few years ago when I was wrongfully fired from UCSF Medical Center, I went on facebook to find out that FB was offering to train people to program for free. Unfortunately, it was strictly for people who lived in 3rd world countries. Now we know why!

Hello all,

Those who do not work in the tech industry don't have the right to support Facebook for it's actions.

I would encourage you to imagine and understand the circumstances of the painful death before sidelining it as routine suicide.

Everyone who wants to bring justice to Qin please join the Facebook group:
Web Link

Facebook definitely need to be hold accountable. All they did now, denial to comment on if there is investigation, delete the victim’s account immediately, are hints of covering up. The possibility that Facebook has nothing to do with the man’s death is 0.

Most of you don't know about privacy laws in the workplace. Facebook is actually prohibited from revealing anything. There can be many reasons that lead a person to suicide. Don't assume it was because of bullying. And don't assume you have a right to know. I'm sure Chen's family would also like the matter to remain a private one.

My condolences to Chen's family and friends.

I agree that the privacy laws prevent Facebook from disclosing much information. It does not see unusual that they would hide the account immediately and remove them from the internal network. I don't see a cover up at all. Mike says that the "manager who bullied Qin", but there is nothing to indicate that he was bullied in any way. That is pure speculation. If someone is "bullied" in the workplace they can go to HR, but if the "bullying" is simply setting reasonable expectations and taking action when those are not met (Bad review, Performance improvement plans, termination) that is hardly bullying. Also in this area with unemployment so low people can find a new job in a few days, so if they were unhappy why not find a new job then leave Facebook?

Sadly, this does not surprise me in the least. I express sincere condolences, love, and compassion for this man and his family and friends. The sad fact is that Mark Zuckerberg is a draconian man who lies through his teeth about "peace, love, acceptance, universal brotherhood, kindness, sincerity, and protecting the individual's liberty...when in fact he and his Facebook administrators hypocritically ban, blacklist, and suspend accounts of people who have viewpoints that Zuckerberg disagrees with. I do not hate him. He is very intelligent and FaceBook has great potential for great things. But the fact stands: This poor man was probably exposed to similiar draconian "political correctness" and bullying in some form and he did this sad and tragic thing.

Many people commit suicide in our nation today and their employers are not necessarily automatically put thru the ringer and asked to explain themselves. All possible causes of the suicide should be investigated and acted upon, but please pump the brakes on pointing the finger at an employer so quickly. And those protesters should be standing in front of the national institute of mental health's doors because the mental health state in USA needs more attention on that entity than Facebook. This man might have committed suicide no matter where he worked.

Blaming any employer for a suicide is presumptuous and ignores myriad other possibilities. Health issues? Marital problems with an unhappy spouse? Financial problems? Undiagnosed mental health issues, of which depression is certainly the most obvious?
Maybe he needed counseling in his native language & & couldn't find a professional sufficiently fluent in whichever dialect he spoke. Many H-iB workers have great computer skills but minimal language command.

Projecting and/or alleging the cause of such a drastic action as "bullying" is irresponsible, as is automatically blaming the man's employer.

I'm not surprised that his Facebook account was deleted. That is common practice to prevent postings of speculative remarks or hurtful (to the family) comments about the decedent from being posted.

It's sad for Chen and his family that a mature adult chose to dramatically end his life. Blaming the company he worked for is not appropriate.

Rest In Peace young man. Whatever lead to this tragedy is a shame, we may never know, but let the poor boy Rest In Peace.

My heart goes out to Qin's family, friends, and everyone affected by his death.

What I am wondering is what is FB doing, in terms of prevention? We like to pretend suicide "won't happen" to us. To our family, to our business, to our community, but it happens. Hoping you/your community/your business/your family is untouchable doesn't prevent suicide.

So, Facebook, now it has happened to you. What are you doing? What have you learned? What will you change? No one can bring Qin back, but you can still help others. What led him to this? Maybe you cannot tell us, but that doesn't mean you cannot act.

What about the Quality of Life issues? Especially as you are sending thousands off campus to a new, lesser, location in the East Bay? How is this affecting their quality of life? Their commute, their happiness? What is it like when they get there? You should care, you should have cared before, but now everyone is watching you, so you need to listen to your employees. Better yet, you need to ASK them. And then you need to ASK them again. And then you need to ASK them again. Make sure they feel HEARD.

Do this for Qin.

How do we know this was Facebook's fault or that FB had any contribution to it?
How do we know, specifically? Until then, hold off on the FB needs to do this and that sanctimony.
For all we know his work may have been his only happiness.

Life is a gift. No one has the right to take his/her life. To stand and defend your life is everyone's right no matter what. Why are we taught otherwise?