Outrage as China rules programmer's toilet death non-work-related
A 39-year-old Shenzhen programmer who collapsed and died in his company toilet in April has been denied work-related death status because he was “not at his desk” when he was found.
Source: South China Morning Post · August 21, 2026 at 11:00 AM · AI-assisted report
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BEIJING, 21 AUGUST 2026 —
A 39-year-old Shenzhen programmer who collapsed and died in his company toilet in April has been denied work-related death status because he was “not at his desk” when he was found.
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Xing Zhi, father of two, clocked in that morning, went straight to the second-floor toilet instead of his 11th-floor desk, and was later found unresponsive in a cubicle, according to Jiupai News. Resuscitation failed and he was pronounced dead. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
The local human resources and social security bureau dismissed the company’s application for work-related recognition in July, stating Xing had “not yet reported for duty” because he did not turn on his computer or start work before entering the toilet. Xing’s wife has requested an administrative review.
Long hours and unpaid overtime are common at some Chinese internet companies, raising concerns about mental and physical health. Under Chinese law, work-related deaths can trigger funeral and dependent benefits plus a one-time payment of about 1.1 million yuan (US$165,000) this year. The employer has compensated the family, though the amount remains undisclosed.
Beijing Zhuohao Law Firm partner Zhang Jian said workplace restrooms should be considered an extension of the working environment because using the toilet is a necessary physiological need. He added that Xing’s heavy workload could strengthen the family’s case, though formal recognition may require further legal action.
Similar claims have succeeded before. In 2024 a Guangdong court ruled that a chef who died in a workplace toilet was a work-related death. Online commentators criticised the Shenzhen bureau’s decision. “This human resources and social security bureau has no compassion and is failing to protect workers’ rights,” one user wrote. Another urged office workers to prioritise health: “Life comes first.”
Cases like Xing’s are not isolated in China. In November 2023 a 32-year-old programmer died after years of intense workloads; eight hours after his death he still received a work message. In 2023 a man in his 30s from eastern China died of organ failure after working 104 consecutive days with only one day off.
Related: Beijing