(China) Zhou Yu, 28, a Jiangsu Province native and Century21 branch manager was found dead in his apartment earlier this week. Family members claim Yu’s death was caused by overwork and fatigue, although no determination has been made yet as to the official cause of death.
Relatives tell the Shanghai Daily that the Realtor often worked until midnight and rarely kept a healthy routine, while Li, a company spokesman says, “The family, who wants more compensation, are overreacting” and denied Zhou’s death was triggered by overwork. “We have never asked our employees to work overtime, but we cannot rule out the possibility that people will voluntarily stay late.” “We always regard employees as our most important resource.”
Realtors are known to work seven day work weeks, and days that typically extend late into the night, and this unhealthy lifestyle can take its toll coupled with stress and family life. This problem extends around the world and whether it’s a down or up market, this problem may lie solely on the shoulders of the agent to manage themselves as tightly as they manage their business, however, it stands to reason that sales managers and senior executives need to recognize possible warning signs and take action as well as raise awareness within their franchises.
In the U.S., Realtors are more often self-employed contractors and it is difficult for Broker operators to mandate or regulate sales agent work routines which are often dictated by consumer demand rather than the Broker themselves.
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John Perkins
April 16, 2011 at 1:39 pm
This is a reported timeline: "Zhou left the office at 17:00 (5PM) on Tuesday and he did not arrive home until 03:00 (3AM) on Wednesday. Four hours later (7AM), he went to take driving lessons and returned home at 11:00 (11AM). He could not be contacted after 13:00 (1PM) that day.
The time line shows he wasn't at work most of that time and had apparently stayed out till 3AM (doesn't explain where but he wasn't at work) and then on 4 hours sleep he takes a driving lesson. A normal 28 y/o doesn't die from overwork but more likely a condition he had or because he lead an unhealthy lifestyle. The family blames the Real Estate company but this would appear false based on the evidence provided. I have serious doubts that C21 has anything to do with his death. Its a sad day for the family though so prayers out to them.