AXA Jamban Life Insurer

The Chief Agency Officer (CAO) dramatic departure follows months of scandals about sexual harassment, macho culture and the departure of many senior officers - is a snapshot of one of the most stunning toxic management stories in the Malaysia Life Insurance industry. 

Unfortunately for AXA Affin Life Insurance Berhad - the company, its name has now become synonymous with many of the hallmarks of toxic work culture, bully management, HR fiasco, cheating agency members, lies and an arrogant culture - that perpetuates reckless decision-making in the life insurance industry.

But these scandals are far from limited to AXA Affin Life Insurance Bhd. The red flags of toxic work culture are all too common across all industries. Here are some of the classic signs you should look out for – and what you should do if your company resembles a certain French-sounding name. 

A Chief Ass Officer (CAO) - who yells, bullies, or antagonises. This is different to ‘tough love’ or the rough personality of a "no-nonsense" boss. The axa chief ass that manipulates and humiliates agency/staff – undermines stability and trust throughout the workplace. Staff/agent branded as - Bodoh (stupid), Jamban (shit house), Penderhaka (traitor) - rings regularly in axa's corridor and meeting rooms.

A ‘success at all costs’ philosophy - the axa chief ass's management style is no-holds-barred. His brutal slash-and-burn method resulted in "re-engineered and meteoric results". It also lead to rapid losses, like the Icarus-like fall. Better to get out of axa affin life insurance quick before the plunge.

Unfair treatment of staff/agent -  chief ass cultivates a toxic work environment more than withholding basic agent/staff rights. The company faces multiple legal blow-backs following claims that it failed to give its agents the compensation written in the agency agreement and/or promised by the company officers. Promises under contests are broken. Promises for production or recruitment are broken. Agent that brought up this broken promises are suspended or terminated.

Chief ass is a control freak - worse, he pushes out productive agents and quality staff in the company. Staff/agent must reply within 30 minutes (by whatapps) or face suspension or worse - termination. 

Absent management- chief ass main communication channel is via with whatapps and emails. He barely interacts face-to-face with staff/agency except to threaten them or throws them under the bus. 

When push comes to shove, though, there are only so many tips you can employ or stress you can endure. Remember, life’s too short to endure a toxic workplace – if axa affin life insurance isn’t a happy place to work, it may be time to start looking for one that is. Jump immediately to AIA, Prudential, Great Eastern, Allianz, Zurich - anything is better than axa and its toxic culture.

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