Landing your first job in a new city should be an exciting milestone. But for a young woman in China, it quickly turned into a medical emergency. A toxic workplace culture and an unreasonable manager left her with a severe injury simply because she missed her daily sales targets.
While this incident happened in Hangzhou, China, workplace bullying is a global issue. Many young professionals face immense pressure, unrealistic targets, and abusive managers. But how far is too far? Let us look at what happened to this young employee and explore how Indian laws protect workers from physical punishments at the office.
The Impossible Targets And The Ultimatum
The young woman, identified by her surname Yang, had recently moved to Hangzhou for her first job. She joined a loan assistance company as a financial consultant. However, her daily routine was mostly tele-sales.
According to reports, her team manager, surnamed Zhang, set extreme daily targets. Employees were required to make 200 calls, invite at least one prospective client, and secure one customer willing to work with the company. On July 28, Yang failed to meet these strict goals.
Her manager gave her an illegal and shocking ultimatum. For every missed task, she had to either pay a fine of 50 yuan (about Rs 709) or do 100 squats. Since she was new and could not afford the financial penalty, she chose the physical punishment. She was forced to do 200 squats to make up for her missed targets.
A Dangerous Punishment
To prove she completed the punishment, Yang recorded videos of herself doing the squats in different parts of the office building and sent them to her boss. By the time she finished her final set, she could barely stand. She was seen staggering and suffered severe pain in both of her legs.
Because she was struggling financially, Yang did not go to a doctor right away. Five days later, she noticed her urine had turned dark. This is a massive medical red flag. She finally rushed to the hospital.
Doctors diagnosed her with a serious and potentially life-threatening condition called rhabdomyolysis. This happens when damaged muscles rapidly break down and release their contents into the bloodstream. In severe cases, it can destroy the kidneys and lead to fatal kidney failure.
Yang’s creatine kinase levels were dangerously high, far beyond the normal limits for this condition. Fortunately, her kidneys did not fail, but she was ordered to rest and avoid all physical activity. Her medical treatment cost her around 1,400 yuan (Rs 20,000). Unable to walk or work, she resigned from the company.
The Fight For Compensation
Yang did not stay silent. She accused the company of imposing unrealistic targets to deliberately force her out. She contacted her manager, Zhang, demanding reimbursement for her medical bills and transport. She also asked for 15,000 yuan (about Rs 2.12 lakh) to cover her living expenses while she recovered.
Zhang flatly refused. He told her to take legal action if she thought she had a case. Yang then took her story to a local television show that helps resolve disputes. On the show, Zhang admitted his actions violated labor rules but claimed the company was not responsible for paying her. Yang has now filed an official complaint with the local labor inspection authority, and an investigation is underway.
What The Law Says: If This Happened In India
In China, labor laws strictly prohibit insulting or physically punishing employees, and offenders can face up to 15 days in detention. But what if an Indian boss tried to force an employee to do squats or pay illegal fines? Indian law is very clear: physical punishment in the workplace is a serious crime.
Criminal Charges Under BNS 2023
If a manager in India forces an employee to do physical exercises as a punishment, they are violating several criminal laws under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.
- Extortion (Section 308 BNS): The manager told Yang to pay a fine or do squats. In India, threatening someone with harm to make them hand over money is Extortion. This was previously covered under Section 384 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
- Voluntarily Causing Grievous Hurt (Section 117 BNS): Because the punishment led to a severe medical condition (muscle breakdown) that required hospital care, the manager could be charged with causing grievous hurt. This replaces the old Section 325 of the IPC and carries heavy prison sentences.
- Criminal Intimidation (Section 351 BNS): Threatening an employee’s job or physical safety to force them into humiliating acts is a crime, previously known under Section 506 of the IPC.
Labor Laws And Safe Workplaces
Indian workplaces are governed by the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, as well as state-specific Shops and Establishments Acts. Under these laws, every employer has a strict legal duty to provide a safe working environment. This means physical safety, mental well-being, and freedom from harassment. Fining an employee for missing a target without a proper disciplinary hearing is illegal under Indian labor laws.
Suing For Damages (Tort Law)
Could Yang sue the company in India? Yes, under Tort Law. A tort is a civil wrong that causes someone to suffer loss or harm. Yang could file a civil lawsuit for compensation for her medical bills, loss of income, and mental agony.
Even though the manager gave the order, the company would also have to pay. This is due to a legal concept called Vicarious Liability. This rule states that an employer is legally responsible for the actions of its employees (like the manager) if those actions happen during the course of their employment.
Why This Matters For You
Many young professionals in India tolerate toxic behavior because they fear losing their jobs. However, the law does not allow any employer to treat you like a personal servant or a prisoner. Targets and performance reviews are normal; fines, physical punishments, and public humiliation are illegal.
If you ever face physical punishment or illegal fines at work, you should document everything. Keep emails, messages, and any medical records. You have the right to file a police complaint for criminal intimidation and report the company to the local Labour Commissioner.
The Takeaway: Your employment contract buys your professional skills, not your physical safety or your dignity. No job target is worth risking your life or health.
Story reported by NDTV News Search Records Found 1000. This article is BareLaw’s independent explanation and analysis.
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