Jiangsu, November 24: A Chinese court awarded ₹40.78 lakh in compensation to a man fired for napping at work. Zhang, a department head at a chemical company in Jiangsu Province, had worked for the company since 2004. Earlier this year, he fell asleep at his desk for an hour after working late the previous night.

His nap was recorded on office CCTV, and two weeks later, the company dismissed him, citing a “zero-tolerance policy” against sleeping at work. Upset with the termination, Zhang filed a lawsuit, claiming unfair dismissal. The company argued his actions violated regulations, justifying his termination despite his two decades of service. China: Woman Dies After Undergoing 6 Cosmetic Surgeries in 24 Hours, Family Sues Clinic for 1.2 Million Yuan.

However, the court ruled that while sleeping at work was against company policy, it did not result in significant harm to the organization. The judge also highlighted Zhang’s impeccable 20-year track record, stating that a single violation was insufficient grounds for termination. ‘Sex Camp’ in China: ‘Sex Appeal’ Training Camp by Sex Appeal Academy Allegedly Charges USD 420 To Teach Women Art of Seduction, Discourage Their Husbands From Cheating.

The court said that terminations must adhere to specific conditions, including evidence of significant damage caused by the employee’s actions. Since Zhang’s nap did not lead to substantial losses, his dismissal was deemed excessive. The court ordered the company to compensate Zhang with 350,000 yuan (INR 40 lakh).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 24, 2024 06:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).