A 29-year-old woman in Hangzhou, eastern China, developed rhabdomyolysis—a serious condition where skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly—after her boss forced her to do 200 squats as punishment for failing to meet work targets.
The woman, surnamed Yang, worked as a financial consultant at a loan assistance company in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, earning CNY 4,500 (£490) a month, according to the Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post. Her role reportedly required employees to make 200 calls, invite one client and secure one prospective client who expressed an intention to collaborate each day.
Punishment for Missing Targets
On July 28, Yang failed to meet two targets and was told by her manager, surnamed Zhang, to choose between doing 200 squats or paying CNY 50 (£5) for each unfinished task. Yang opted for the squats due to her financial situation.
She filmed herself completing the punishment in batches around the office building as proof for her supervisor. However, after finishing the final repetitions, she struggled to stand up and began staggering. Yang said she was in severe pain but did not seek medical attention because she could not afford it.
Diagnosis and Recovery
Five days later, after her urine turned dark, she went to hospital and was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis. In severe cases, this condition can damage the kidneys and lead to kidney failure. Her creatine kinase level reportedly reached around 16,000 U/L, indicating severe muscle damage. Fortunately, she did not develop kidney failure.
Yang said she spent around CNY 1,400 (£150) on treatment and resigned because her condition prevented her from working. She demanded that the company cover her medical and transport costs and pay CNY 15,000 (£1,640) in compensation.
Labour Inspection
Zhang reportedly rejected her demands but admitted to a reporter on a local conflict-resolution TV programme that he knew physical punishment violated labour law. Yang has reported the case to labour inspectors, who said they would investigate.
