Archive · 22 Dec 2025
Chinese Engineer Fired Over 4-Hour Bathroom Breaks
A Chinese engineer named Li was fired from his job because he took very long bathroom breaks, sometimes lasting up to four hours.
His company said he was not doing his work during these breaks.
Li sued the company, saying he had a medical condition that required him to spend more time in the bathroom.
However, the court found that Li did not tell his company about his condition or take sick leave.
The court decided that the company was right to fire Li, but the company agreed to pay him some money as a settlement.
This story has started a big discussion in China about employee rights and workplace rules.
A Chinese engineer named Li was fired for taking extended bathroom breaks during work hours, with one break lasting nearly four hours.
Li sued his company for illegal dismissal, claiming he had a medical condition that required frequent bathroom visits.
The company presented CCTV footage showing Li's breaks were longer than necessary and that he did not respond to work messages during this time.
The court upheld the company's decision to terminate Li, stating that his actions disrupted work operations and that he had not informed the company about his illness or applied for sick leave.
A settlement was reached, with the company agreeing to pay Li 30,000 yuan (₹3.5 lakh) as an ex gratia payment.
- Who
- Li, a Chinese engineer working for a technology company in Jiangsu province
- What
- Li was fired for taking extended bathroom breaks during work hours
- When
- The incident occurred between April and May 2024, with the court case and settlement in 2025
- Where
- Jiangsu province, China
- Why
- Li's extended bathroom breaks were deemed disruptive to work operations and against company policy
- Engineer's Name
- Li
- Company Location
- Jiangsu province, China
- Duration of Employment
- 2010 to 2024
- Number of Bathroom Breaks
- 14 times in 26 working days
- Longest Bathroom Break
- Close to 4 hours
- Compensation Claimed by Li
- 320,000 yuan (₹41 lakh)
- Settlement Amount
- 30,000 yuan (₹3.5 lakh)
- Court's Decision
- Upheld the company's decision to terminate Li