A 29-year-old woman has been hospitalised after her boss ordered her to perform 200 squats as punishment for failing to meet her daily work targets. Get the latest updates on our WhatsApp channel.
The woman, identified as Yang, had started working as a financial consultant at a loan assistance company in Hangzhou, eastern China, in June.
Her job required her to make 200 calls, invite one client and secure one prospective client who expressed an intention to collaborate each day. However, on July 28, Yang failed to meet two of the targets.
Her manager, identified as Zhang, reportedly gave her two options — complete 200 squats as punishment or pay CNY 50 for each unfinished task.
Unable to afford the payment, Yang chose to do the squats.
She reportedly filmed herself completing the punishment in batches around the office building and sent the videos to her supervisor as proof. However, after completing the final repetitions, she struggled to stand and was seen staggering while walking.
Five days later, Yang noticed that her urine had turned dark and sought medical attention. Doctors diagnosed her with rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition in which damaged muscle tissue breaks down rapidly and releases its contents into the bloodstream.
Her creatine kinase level reportedly reached around 160,000 U/L, an extremely high level indicating severe muscle damage. Fortunately, she did not develop kidney failure and was advised to rest and avoid strenuous physical activity.
Yang said she spent around CNY 1,400 (£150) on medical treatment and eventually resigned from the company because her condition prevented her from continuing to work.
She is demanding that the company reimburse her medical and transportation expenses and pay CNY 15,000 (£1,640) in compensation.
However, Zhang rejected her demands while admitting that he knew using physical punishment against employees violated labour law.
“I also know that it violates labour law,” he said, adding that sales companies needed to put employees under pressure to make money.
Yang has since reported the matter to labour inspectors, who said they would investigate the case.