Chinese Engineer Fired for Long Bathroom Breaks: Court Upholds Company Decision, Sparks Debate

• A Chinese engineer, Li, was fired by a technology company in Jiangsu for repeatedly taking excessively long bathroom breaks during work hours.
• Between April and May 2024, Li took 14 breaks over 26 days, with some lasting over an hour and one nearly four hours, as shown by CCTV footage.
• Li sued for unlawful dismissal, claiming a medical condition (hemorrhoids) but failed to inform the company or take sick leave; medical records were post-termination.
• The court upheld the company's decision, stating Li's conduct disrupted work and the termination was lawful, dismissing his initial claim for 320,000 yuan.
• A mediated settlement resulted in the company paying Li 30,000 yuan ex gratia, sparking widespread debate on employee rights, discipline, and privacy.

Why It Matters: Court upholds firing of engineer for excessive bathroom breaks, sparking debate on workplace rules and privacy.