A man in China who was fired for taking a one-hour nap after working late the previous day won his case and was awarded RMB 350,000 (USD 48,295) in compensation, reports the South China Morning Post.

The man, identified as Zhang, worked as a department manager at a chemical company in Taixing, Jiangsu province in southeastern China. He worked at the company for two decades. Earlier this year, Zhang was dismissed after company surveillance cameras captured him napping at his desk following a work-related drive that extended until midnight the night before.

Two weeks after the incident, the company’s HR department released a report stating that Zhang had been “caught sleeping at work due to exhaustion”, a document that Zhang signed. According to a WeChat conversation record circulated online, an HR staff member inquired, “Manager Zhang, how long did you nap that day?” to which he responded: “About an hour or so.” Subsequently, after consulting the labour union, the company issued a formal dismissal notice to Zhang, citing a serious violation of company regulations.

Believing the dismissal was unjust, Zhang promptly filed a lawsuit against the company. In evaluating the case, the court recognised that while employers have the right to terminate contracts for violations of regulations, such terminations must adhere to specific conditions, including causing significant loss.

Given Zhang’s 20-year tenure at the company, characterised by outstanding performance, promotions, and salary increases, it was determined that terminating him over a single infraction was excessive and unreasonable. Ultimately, the court ruled in favour of Zhang, ordering the company to compensate him.