Woman diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, quits job

Supervisor refuses compensation, tells her to 'take legal action'

This image is unrelated to the article. [123rf]
This image is unrelated to the article. [123rf]

A young woman in China developed a serious muscle condition after her supervisor ordered her to do 200 squats as punishment for failing to meet a sales quota.

According to the South China Morning Post, a woman surnamed Yang, who was in her 20s and had just started work as a telemarketer at a financial lending firm in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province in eastern China, was subjected to the physical punishment by her supervisor on July 28.

The team leader, surnamed Zhang, required all team members to meet a daily quota of 200 phone calls, one client visit and one signed letter of intent for a consultation.

Anyone who fell short was required to pay a fine of 50 yuan ($7) per missed item or perform 100 squats.

Yang, who could not afford the fines and did not want to lose her first job, chose to do 200 squats instead.

She filmed herself doing squats around the office to provide her team leader with proof that she had completed the punishment.

In the footage, Yang can be seen struggling to stand up straight after finishing the final sets.

Yang began experiencing severe leg pain and sought medical attention five days later after noticing her urine had turned dark. She was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which rapid muscle breakdown releases toxins into the bloodstream, which can damage the kidneys and potentially cause life-threatening renal failure.

Yang did not develop kidney failure. Doctors advised her to rest and avoid strenuous exercise.

Unable to work due to her condition, Yang resigned on July 30. She then demanded 15,000 yuan in compensation from her team leader to cover medical expenses, transportation costs and 75 days of recuperation and living expenses.

Yang appealed for help through local television and other outlets, alleging that the company had imposed unrealistic targets to deliberately push employees to quit.

Even after her story became public, Zhang refused to pay compensation, acknowledging a violation of labor law but calling it a personal matter unrelated to the company and telling Yang to pursue legal action.

Yang has since filed a formal complaint with the local labor inspection authority. Under local labor law, anyone who humiliates or physically punishes an employee can face up to 15 days of administrative detention.

China Pick
China Pick

jshan@heraldcorp.com