Possible to get work visa for foreigner working in Beijing?

I'm an American working in Beijing. My residence permit expired, and my company was too late to give me a work visa, so they got me a one-month humanitarian visa instead. The company was still too late to renew my residence permit (!), so now they're telling me to go to Thailand to apply for a work visa there so I can then come back to Beijing and get my residence permit.

If I have all the correct documents and everything needed, is it possible for me to go to Thailand, apply for a work visa, and then come back to Beijing? I am very worried, because I feel I should go to America, but the company insists it is OK to go to Thailand. My humanitarian visa expires September 23.

Thank you for your advice.