News reported on September 3rd that this summer, Atour Lifestyle Holdings Limited (ATAT) introduced high stools at the front desks of its hotels, permitting employees to sit and handle administrative tasks during periods without guests. This breaks the industry's traditional rule that front desk staff must remain standing at all times.

It is understood that the group has also implemented accompanying on-site training to clarify service boundaries: employees are to stand up promptly to greet guests when they approach within approximately five meters of the front desk, while being allowed to sit for internal duties during idle times.

However, on social media, a user claiming to be an Atour franchisee posted: "With all this widespread publicity about the front desk chairs, is this genuine care for the frontline staff, or is it really about using the guise of employee care to push supply chain business? If they see that staff stand all day and risk varicose veins, why not simply provide the chairs for free? The brand collects substantial management fees every month, which should logically already cover basic frontline labor protections. Even if the brand and franchisee split the cost, that would at least show some sincerity."

The franchisee added: "As a franchise owner, we are completely willing to purchase chairs and improve the work environment for our frontline partners. But caring for employees should not become a means of coercion by the brand. It cannot be that under the guise of treating staff well, they force us to buy through their supply chain, letting the brand gain both reputation and profit."

Under the same post, another user revealed that "the purchase price for these chairs is 500 yuan each." In response, some consumers directly commented: "They should really fund this themselves; it's not much money. Making the franchisees pay while the brand takes the credit is too harsh," and "Spending money on employees is fine, but it shouldn't be done this way."

Regarding the above situation, the BUG column sought official confirmation from Atour Lifestyle Holdings Limited (ATAT), but had not received a response as of the time of reporting.