By Eileen Mencias
Suyen Corp., led by retail magnate Ben Chan, has refuted allegations suggesting that employees are being charged P500 each to attend the annual Christmas party scheduled for December 4 at the Philippine International Convention Center.
In response to claims circulating on Reddit, where it was suggested that Bench and its sister companies were imposing charges, Suyen Corp. clarified that: “The Christmas Party is FREE for all regular employees.”
“The company covers the cost of the event, which includes venue, food, décor, and entertainment,” Suyen said in an email to Bilyonaryo.com.
The post on Reddit, alleging charges of P500 for attendees and P300 for non-attendees, has been deleted. Prior to its removal, Chan’s Bench faced criticism from netizens, prompting some to call for a boycott of its products.
While some challenged the accusation, citing the company’s history of sending employees on all-expense-paid foreign trips, purported company insiders suggested that the charges might be related to smaller units within the company organizing more intimate gatherings, where individuals contribute for food.
Suyen emphasized that the Christmas party incorporates loyalty, performance, and raffle awards and prizes.
“No employee is required to pay any amount, whether they choose to attend or not. It is a party given by the company to its employees. This has been the standard for Bench and its sister companies,” Suyen said.
The company further denounced the now-deleted article as false, misleading, and contrary to its corporate values.