bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Fran Lu

The sacking of Chinese man who was found to have walked 16,000 steps after applying for sick leave because of foot pain has ignited a heated discussion about employees’ rights.
An official social media account of the Ministry of Justice published details of the 2019 case on October 29.
The man, surnamed Chen, who worked at a company in eastern China’s Jiangsu province, applied twice for sick leave for a back strain he suffered at work in February and March, providing a hospital diagnosis as evidence.
He came back to work after resting for about a month.

But after working for half a day, he applied for sick leave again, this time for pain in his right foot.
He also provided a doctor’s note advising him to rest for a week.
Chen had his foot pain checked at the hospital a week later and was diagnosed with a heel spur.
He then prolonged his sick leave for days.
The company first asked Chen to visit the company to submit his hospital check-up documents, but when Chen arrived, he was stopped by a security guard.
Days later, the company told Chen he was fired for being absent from work, adding that he had lied about his health condition.

Chen then filed a labour arbitration case against the company.
The authorities supported Chen after an investigation and demanded the company pay him 118,779 yuan (US$16,700) in compensation.
The company then took Chen to court.
It presented surveillance footage showing Chen running towards the company on the day he applied for sick leave for foot pain.
It also provided a chat software record showing Chen walked more than 16,000 steps on that day.
Chen argued that the company’s evidence was not valid and that he had included comprehensive hospital records, including medical scans of his waist and foot.

The court ruled that the company compensate Chen after two trials, on the grounds that they had dismissed its employee illegally.
Chen’s case caused a heated discussion online, with many people saying the company had infringed his rights.
“It is normal for the app to record a large number of steps even if the user does not walk so much. Even if he really walked 16,000 steps, that is possible if he went to the hospital or bought medicine,” one online observer said.
“The company does not have the right to check the private data of their employees, such as number of steps, let alone firing them for it,” said another.


TCM bar in China makes customers drinks based on its doctor’s diagnoses

China woman quits teaching to sell coffins to Europe, generating US$6 million sales annually

Chinese man wins iPhone at company’s party, finds tiles inside box instead, demands apology

Cyber Lunar New Year trending among China youth who buy virtual goods, burn digital incense

Trending in China

China boss fires worker for sick leave after recording shows him walking 16,000 steps

A company in China sacked an employee who had requested sick leave for pain in his right foot after they discovered a WeChat recording of him walking 16,000 steps on the same day. Photo: Shutterstock

Chen was seen running to the company’s premises on the day he applied for sick leave. Photo: Shutterstock

The company provided data from chat software records which showed Chen had taken more than 16,000 steps on the day he applied for sick leave citing foot pain. Photo: Shutterstock

A man walks to work over a harbour bridge. Online observers said the company had no right to check on Chen’s private data. Photo: Shutterstock

‘First in China’: man splurges US$560,000 on hyaluronic acid shots to create 8-pack abs

A Chinese man has sparked controversy by spending US$560,000 on acid injections to achieve artificial abs. Photo: Douyin

Andy Hao Tienan shows off his stomach muscles. He has about 100,000 followers online. Photo: Douyin

Hao says he plans to have 10,000 injections of the acid pumped into his body. Photo: Douyin

Hao, centre, says if his abs have not disappeared in three years’ time, he will live-stream himself “cracking walnuts” with them. Photo: Douyin

A medical expert has warned that Hao’s injection regime could pose a risk to his health. Photo: Shutterstock

Why Chinese people slap, spit on, insult statues of Song dynasty chancellor Qin Hui

For over 500 years, statues of Qin Hui, a Song dynasty chancellor, have faced public scorn through slaps and insults, symbolising widespread disdain for his betrayal in Chinese history. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote/Wikipedia

In various tourist sites, the statues of Qin and Wang are often accompanied by those of Zhang Jun and Mo Qixie, both of whom played significant roles in framing Yue. Photo: Baidu

These acts of vandalism, such as visitors hitting the statues with their shoes, have prompted some tourist authorities to install protective iron bars around them. Photo: Baidu

It’s not uncommon to witness Chinese tourists slapping, kicking, or even spitting on the statues of Qin and Wang as a way to express their contempt. For instance, one tourist was seen strangling Qin’s statue. Photo: Baidu

Chinese mother goes viral for kissing son’s gravestone, teaching him about afterlife

A Chinese mother has gone viral for visiting her three-year-old son’s grave, sharing her grief and kissing his gravestone. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

The boy, afflicted by a rare genetic disorder, was admitted to the ICU 27 times, leading his mother to spend an astounding two million yuan (US$280,000) on his treatment. Photo: Shutterstock

Initially, she visited Jubao’s grave almost daily, but over time, she recognised the importance of being strong for her family and has since reduced her visits to two or three times a month. Photo: 163.com

A video of the mother kissing her son’s gravestone, who died at the age of three from a rare genetic disorder, has profoundly moved many due to her deep love and grief. Photo: 163.com

Why Chinese call romantic jealousy ‘eat vinegar’; what is its Tang dynasty minister link

The Chinese phrase “to eat vinegar” expresses romantic jealousy and originated from the Tang dynasty. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

The Tang dynasty was characterised by a vibrant culture, notable advancements in poetry, art, and literature, as well as economic prosperity driven by flourishing trade along the Silk Road. Photo: Nora Tam

Jealousy is a common emotion among couples, considered a normal human reaction to perceived threats to a valued relationship. Photo: Shutterstock

In China, vinegar is traditionally and safely stored in ceramic jars, as long as the jars are fully glazed with a food-safe, acid-resistant glaze. Photo: Shutterstock

Chinese woman spends boyfriend’s US$140,000 entrusted for safekeeping on plastic surgery

A Chinese businessman lost more than US$140,000, which he had entrusted to his girlfriend for safekeeping, after she spent the money on plastic surgery. Photo: Shutterstock/Baidu

Min, above, placed her trust in a woman who said she was a shareholder in a beauty clinic. Photo: Baidu

Min’s boyfriend Jin, above, only discovered what she had done when he asked her for some money. Photo: Baidu

A receipt shows that Min spent US$6,700 on just one of her many cosmetic procedures. Photo: Baidu

One of the procedures Min underwent was to have her lips made plump to make her look “wealthy”. Photo: Shutterstock

News

People & Culture

Employer uses surveillance footage of employee with ‘back and foot’ pain ‘running’ on day of sick leave claim; court sides with sacked worker


Employer uses surveillance footage of employee with ‘back and foot’ pain ‘running’ on day of sick leave claim; court sides with sacked worker.


China boss fires worker for sick leave after recording shows him walking 16,000 steps

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Employer uses surveillance footage of employee with ‘back and foot’ pain ‘running’ on day of sick leave claim; court sides with sacked worker

Employer uses surveillance footage of employee with ‘back and foot’ pain ‘running’ on day of sick leave claim; court sides with sacked worker