Man in China fired after company said he walked 16,000 steps while on sick leave for foot pain

Man in China sues company for wrongful termination after they claim he walked 16,000 steps during sick leave

On 29 Oct, China’s Ministry of Justice posted the details for a 2019 case where a man was fired after his company said he took 16,000 steps while on sick leave for foot pain.

According to the South China Morning Post, the story quickly caught public attention and led to a debate about workers’ rights.

Man took extended leave for medical reasons

The man in question is a company worker surnamed Chen. When he developed a back strain from work, he applied for leave using a hospital diagnosis as evidence.

Around a month later, he returned to work only to take another leave only half a day in. This time, he claimed that he had pain in his right foot. He took a week off based on doctor’s advice.

He was diagnosed with heel spur, a condition where there is a bony protrusion on the heel bone caused by repeated stress. This prompted Chen to ask for more time off.

As a result, the company asked Chen to provide documents to support his extended leave.

Fired days after trying to submit hospital documents

However, when he arrived at the company, he was stopped by security. The company then informed Chen a few days later that he was fired for lying about his health condition.

Finding this unfair, Chen filed for labour arbitration against the company. Authorities investigated the case and supported Chen’s claims, ordering them to pay him 118,779 yuan (about S$22,000).

The company decided to take the case to court. They claimed Chen had lied about his condition, presenting surveillance footage showing him running to the company on the day he applied for leave.

Additionally, the company also claimed Chen had taken 16,000 steps that day based on a chat software they used to track him.

Meanwhile, Chen presented his own evidence — the medical records which included scans of his waist and foot.

After two trials, the court ruled in Chen’s favour and ordered the company to pay him for firing him illegally.

Also read: Woman in M’sia allegedly fired for taking emergency leave to care for hospitalised child

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