Yes, scoldings are probably less/rare there but they'll find a reason to let you go after compiling a list of mess ups, behind your back of course. And when you're eventually pushed out, it'll be for some weird and cryptic allegation, which you try to defend but you miss the secret list. Of course, they won't outright and say you suck, out of Western conceptions of courtesy. Although, they have a way of saying things that you'll only realise 6 years later.

There are only two responses a firm can take - scold directly, or ruin indirectly. You choose. Would you rather be told you're being retarded so you can learn (the Asian response), or would you rather the firm think you're retarded but you don't know what you can do better (the non-Asian response)? In Japan, people got fired for being out of frame in Zoom, such unprofessional conduct. Finding a good partner is a unicorn, I have yet to find one and even if I did they're probably chock full of good associates.

Look the point is - abuse or not, junior associates are all useless. If they are not, the partner does not know what he's doing.

Internationals are doing badly in this economy. Any firm tied to the US/UK market is not doing well. Look at their zero/dismal retention rates, retrenchments and current pay cuts locally and the actual paycuts, furloughs, retrenchments in the UK/US. Of course if you get retrenched you should still negotiate and hope (in some cases) they take you back.

My two cents - It doesn't help that they have taken a relatively staggered response to the virus and they have a lack of unified governmental outlook under the Federal system, toeing the political Conservative-Democrat/Liberal divide. See IMF projections. In contrast, although it started in Wuhan, the Chinese response was tough and swift. Number of cases in US / UK are high. This means contamination and a further outbreak is a further risk. When it breaks out again, cost cutting across all offices.

It'd be quite precarious right now. My two cents - look at their areas of practice and clientele and come to your own conclusions. Are you also overpaid for the work that you do? That adds a layer of unjustifiability to the equation. You are either next to go, or on your way out, or maybe they tried to get you to go but you grovelled. Or you started a mentoring site. Many possibilities, same outcome - companies need to be leaner.