South China Morning Post reported that a Chinese employee, known only by his surname Wang, was dismissed for spending excessive time — up to six hours a day — in the bathroom during work hours.
Having joined the company in April 2006, Wang shifted to a non-fixed-term contract starting in April 2013. After successful treatment for a medical condition in December 2014, Wang began spending significant time in the restroom, citing persistent pain as the cause.
From July 2015, he reported spending three to six hours daily in the restroom. The company’s records indicate that Wang used the restroom two to three times a day from September 7 to 17, 2015, resulting in 22 restroom visits. His bathroom breaks ranged from 47 minutes to over three hours.
Subsequently, his contract was terminated on September 23, 2015, due to his chronic tardiness, early departures, and unauthorized absences.
Wang sought to continue his non-fixed-term labor contract and regain his position, but he could not reclaim his job despite the legal proceedings. The courts ruled against Wang, concluding that his extensive restroom breaks exceeded “reasonable physiological needs”; therefore, his dismissal was legal and justified.
This unusual case sparked astonishment among social media users, many of whom expressed criticism of the employee.
One user commented, “Spending half an eight-hour workday in the restroom? No employer could tolerate that.” Another remarked, “It’s like being paid to use the loo.” Yet another user opined, “While illness warrants empathy, it shouldn’t be exploited as an excuse. If employees like this were to win, restrooms would be inundated.”
