A Chinese employee was terminated after his employer discovered he had walked over 16,000 steps during sick leave due to leg pain. The incident, reported by the South China Morning Post on November 10, unfolded in 2019 when the man, employed at a Jiangsu Province company, took two periods of sick leave for back and leg injuries. After returning to work, he again requested time off for right-leg pain, submitting a medical certificate recommending rest. The company demanded proof of his health status but denied him access to the office. Days later, he was fired for providing false health information.
The employer presented smartphone data showing the employee walked 16,000 steps on the day of his sick leave request. The worker filed a lawsuit, leading an arbitration court to order the company to pay 118,000 yuan in compensation. The firm then countered with video evidence allegedly showing the employee running toward the office during his absence. The employee disputed the footage, submitting medical records including back and foot scans. A retrial later ruled the dismissal unlawful, requiring the employer to pay additional compensation.
