An employee in China was fired for taking too long on the toilet — the longest break lasting four hours — between April and May 2024. The man sued the company, claiming it was illegal termination, the South China Morning Post reported.
The incident came to light after the company was taken to court, with Li seeking 320,000 yuan in damages ( ₹41,08,800).
According to reports, Li joined the company in 2010 and renewed his contract indefinitely in 2014. His job required him to remain on standby and respond quickly to work-related messages. When his superiors began to notice that he was often away from his workstation, they tried to contact him through a chat application, but he did not respond.
The company later presented surveillance footage in court showing Li going to the bathroom frequently and for long periods of time. According to company rules, leaving the place without permission for a specified period of time was considered absent. Accumulation of three days of absence within 180 days may result in immediate dismissal. The firm also obtained approval from the union before terminating its services.
What evidence did Li present to the court?
Li claimed that his long bathroom breaks were due to a medical condition. He submitted records of hemorrhoid medication his partner bought online in May and June last year, along with hospital surgery documents from January this year.
Why did the court reject his claim?
The court noted that the time Li spent in the bathroom “significantly exceeded” what would normally be required for physical needs. She also pointed out that the medical records covered the period after many toilet visits. In addition, Li did not inform the company of his condition or request sick leave in advance, as required by his contract.
After two rounds of negotiations, the court proceeded to mediation. In consideration of Li’s services to the company and the hardship caused by the job loss, she persuaded the employer to settle the matter by paying him an allowance of 30,000 yuan, roughly US$4,200.
According to the SCMP, this was not an isolated incident. In 2023, a worker in Jiangsu was fired for taking bathroom breaks that lasted up to six hours, a court upheld. In past cases, drivers even reportedly faced penalties for short bathroom stops that disrupted work schedules.
