• Source:JND
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A Chinese woman sacked from her work for departing a minute early on six instances within a month has succeeded in an unfair dismissal claim, prompting a debate on social networking sites over the country's tough workplace routines. The woman, surnamed Wang, had been employed by a company in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, for three years and claimed to have maintained a strong performance record during her tenure.

At the close of last year, Wang was summoned by the company's human resources department and told that security tapes indicated she had vacated her workstation a minute ahead of schedule on six different days in a month. Soon after, the company ended her contract without warning or punishment. Wang then made a complaint to the local labour bureau and launched legal action against the company.

Court Says Dismissal Unjustified

Guangzhou court recently decided in Wang's favor, holding that even though she had indeed left one minute ahead of schedule, no reasonable interpretation existed that would deem her "leaving work early" in either a disciplinary or legal sense. The court went on to mention that the company had not provided any official warnings or correction instructions before issuing termination, which they deemed too abrupt and insufficiently justified. The dismissal was illegal because it was neither grounded in solid evidence nor proportionate to the alleged misconduct," the verdict read.

Liu Biyun, a Guangzhou Laixin Law Firm lawyer, said the dismissal was too severe and did not cross the line of lawful termination. "Terminating an employee under such conditions is a harsh punishment and is unfair," she told local media.

A Wider Workplace Culture Debate

The case has attracted widespread condemnation on Chinese social media, with users expressing anger at what they see as overly strict work practices. Wang's court victory is being viewed as a symbolic triumph over unjustified corporate practices. Labour rights activists argue that the case underscores the need for stronger boundaries and safeguards for workers in a more competitive job market. Although the employer has been directed by the court to compensate Wang, the amount of compensation is not released.