A court in southern China has ruled in favour of a woman who was fired for leaving her workplace one minute early on six occasions, declaring the dismissal unlawful and ordering compensation, according to a report by the South China Morning Post.
The woman, identified by her surname Wang, had worked at a company in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, for three years. She was reportedly informed by the human resources manager that surveillance footage revealed she had left her desk slightly early on six separate days within a month. Based on this, the company terminated her employment.
Wang challenged the dismissal in court, arguing that she had maintained a consistent performance record. The court ruled in her favour, stating that leaving work one minute early did not constitute “getting off early” in any substantial sense. It also noted that the company had not issued any prior warnings or asked Wang to correct her behaviour before resorting to termination.
The company, whose name has not been disclosed, was ordered to pay compensation to Wang. While the exact amount was not revealed, similar employment cases in China typically result in payouts ranging from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹4 lakh, depending on salary and local labour laws.
Legal expert Liu Biyun from the Guangzhou Laixin Law Firm said, “Firing an employee under such circumstances was a stern punishment,” and stressed the importance of proportional disciplinary action.
The incident sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media, with many users criticising the company’s rigid policies. “Why did the company not offer subsidies to employees who come to work earlier?” one user asked. Another wrote, “This relentless company should be punished.”
The case has also reignited debate over harsh workplace rules in China. In March, a company in Anhui province was criticised for prohibiting mobile phone use and restricting employee movement during work hours.
The ruling is being seen as a significant moment in the broader conversation about labour rights and work-life balance in the country.