Chinese employee hospitalized after forced squats as punishment for missed sales targets
A financial consultant in Hangzhou, surnamed Yang, was required to do 200 squats by her manager after failing to meet her daily work quota. She completed the punishment but developed severe muscle breakdown, a life-threatening condition. The incident has sparked discussions about workplace discipline in China.
Yang, a recent graduate who relocated to Hangzhou for her first job in June, worked as a financial consultant in a tele-sales role. Her manager, Zhang, imposed a daily quota requiring 200 calls, one client invitation, and one expression of collaboration interest. On July 28, after missing these targets, Yang faced a choice between 100 squats or a 50 yuan fine per unfinished task. Lacking funds, she chose the physical punishment, documenting her efforts in video recordings taken in batches across different office locations as proof for her supervisor. The punishment left her unable to stand or walk properly, and she was hospitalized with severe muscle breakdown, a potentially fatal condition.
This incident could prompt broader scrutiny of informal disciplinary practices in Chinese workplaces, particularly in sales-driven sectors where quotas are aggressively enforced. Other employees facing similar pressure may become more cautious about accepting physical punishments, while companies could face reputational risks that push them toward formalizing disciplinary procedures. The case may also encourage workers to document or report coercive management tactics, potentially shifting the balance of power in employer-employee relations.