The dismissal of an employee by a company in Jiangsu province in eastern China sparked debate and outrage in the country.
This is because the employee, surnamed Chen, was fired because the company found he had recorded 16,000 steps in an app while on sick leave for foot pain.
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A company in China fired an employee, claiming that he lied about being sick
According to SCMP, China’s Ministry of Justice published details of the case, which took place in 2019, on its official social media account on 29 October 2025, sparking public interest.
Chen had previously applied for sick leave after a hospital diagnosis showed he suffered a back strain at work in February and March. After a month of rest, he then returned to work.
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However, upon return and working for half a day, Chen applied for sick leave again, this time due to pain in his right foot. He provided a doctor’s note advising him to rest for a week as a supporting document for the sick leave.
A week later, Chen went to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a heel spur and extended his sick leave for days.
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The company then asked Chen to visit the company to submit his hospital check-up documents, but he was stopped by a security staff member upon arrival.
A few days later, Chen was told by the company that he was fired for being absent from work, claiming that he had lied about his health condition.
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The company took Chen to court after he filed a labour arbitration case for the dismissal
Following his firing, Chen filed a labour arbitration case against the company. The authorities investigated the matter and supported Chen, demanding that the company pay him CNY118,779 (~RM69,664).
However, the company responded by taking Chen to court.
In court, the company showed surveillance footage showing Chen running towards the company on the day he applied for sick leave for foot pain. The company also provided data from an app showing that Chen walked over 16,000 steps on that day.
However, Chen argued that the evidence presented by the company was not valid as he had included comprehensive hospital records, including medical scans of his waist and foot.
Ultimately, after two trials, the court ruled that the company is in the wrong and it must compensate Chen for wrongful dismissal.
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So, what do you guys think of this intriguing case? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
