Man in China fired for napping at desk after working late, sues firm, awarded US$48,000
‘The company’s response was overly harsh, if minor mistakes can lead to dismissal, it makes termination too easy,’ one commenter warns
A man in China who was fired for taking a one-hour nap after working late the previous day won his case and was awarded 350,000 yuan (US$48,000) in compensation, sparking lively discussions among Chinese netizens.
The man, identified as Zhang, whose age remains undisclosed, worked as a department manager at a chemical company in Taixing, Jiangsu province in southeastern China. He dedicated two decades of service to the company.
Earlier this year, Zhang was dismissed after company surveillance cameras captured him napping at his desk following a work-related drive that extended until midnight the night before.
Two weeks after the incident, the company’s HR department released a report stating that Zhang had been “caught sleeping at work due to exhaustion”, a document that Zhang signed.
According to a WeChat conversation record circulated online, an HR staff member inquired: “Manager Zhang, how long did you nap that day?” to which he responded: “About an hour or so.”
Subsequently, after consulting the labour union, the company issued a formal dismissal notice to Zhang, citing a serious violation of company regulations.
