One minute may not seem like much — but for one woman in China, it was enough to cost her a job and spark a nationwide conversation on workers’ rights.
Recently, a woman from southern China, known only by her surname Wang, made headlines after she successfully sued her former employer for unfair dismissal.
The company, based in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, had terminated Wang for allegedly leaving her desk one minute early on six occasions within a single month.
Wang, who had been working with the company for three years and claimed to have a “good track record,” brought the case to court earlier this year.
According to Sinar Harian, a local court has since ruled in her favour, stating that her dismissal lacked sufficient justification and ordering the company to pay compensation.
No warning was given
Wang first became aware of the issue when a human resources manager contacted her late last year.
The manager informed her that office surveillance footage showed her leaving her desk just one minute ahead of her official finishing time on six separate days.
Instead of issuing a formal warning or advising Wang to correct the behaviour, the company proceeded straight to termination.
Wang then lodged a complaint with the local labour authority and filed a lawsuit. The court noted that while Wang technically did leave a minute early, the behaviour did not qualify as a serious violation.
The absence of prior warnings or disciplinary action from the employer only strengthened her case.
‘An excessive punishment’
In the court’s final decision, it stated that the termination was “unfounded” and lacked sufficient evidence.
Legal expert Liu Biyun from Guangdong Laixin Law Firm also weighed in, describing the company’s response as overly harsh.
Firing an employee under such circumstances is an excessive punishment,” said Liu.
The case quickly went viral across mainland Chinese social media platforms, sparking debate about workplace fairness, the treatment of employees, and how strictly rules should be enforced.
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