A veteran employee’s 20-year career at a Chinese chemical company came to a shocking end when he was caught napping at his desk. Zhang, a department manager at a company based in Taixing, Jiangsu province, became the center of a viral controversy after surveillance footage revealed him sleeping during working hours. Two weeks later, the HR department issued a formal report, attributing his nap to ‘exhaustion.’ Internal communications, which quickly spread online, revealed Zhang had been asleep for nearly an hour. This incident triggered the company’s strict “zero-tolerance” policy, resulting in his immediate dismissal.
According to a report by South China Morning Post (SCMP), the official termination notice stated that Zhang’s nap violated company policy, despite his 20 years of service and an open-ended employment contract from 2004. After consultation with the labor union, the company terminated Zhang’s employment, ending his longstanding tenure. However, the story didn’t end there.
Feeling unjustly terminated, Zhang took legal action. The court proceedings revealed critical details, leading to an unexpected verdict. It was uncovered that Zhang had been involved in a high-pressure project that kept him working until midnight the day before the incident. This new context played a crucial role in the case.
The court emphasized the importance of employment law and the employer’s obligation to justify terminations. While sleeping on the job violated company rules, the court ruled that this was Zhang’s first offense and had no major impact on the company’s operations. The judge acknowledged Zhang’s two decades of consistent performance, including promotions and salary raises, which demonstrated his strong work ethic.
The court determined that firing Zhang for a single nap was excessive, violating fair employment practices. The judge ruled in favor of Zhang, ordering the company to pay 350,000 yuan (approximately ₹41.6 lakh or $50,000 USD) in compensation. This case highlights the importance of just cause in employee terminations and legal protection for workers who feel they have been unfairly dismissed. It serves as a warning to companies about the risks of applying strict disciplinary policies without considering the employee’s history and overall performance. The ruling marks a significant shift in Chinese labor law, emphasizing fairness and due process for long-serving employees.
