A woman in China developed a potentially life-threatening condition after her manager ordered her to perform 200 squats for failing to hit her daily targets.
Workplace disputes regularly go viral online, including a gamer who claimed he was fired after his boss added him on Xbox and a woman who said her boss made her pay for her own farewell lunch.
However, one employee in Hangzhou, China, was left requiring medical treatment after her company allegedly used physical exercise as punishment.
According to Need To Know, the 29-year-old woman, identified only by her surname Yang, joined a loan assistance company as a financial consultant in June 2026.
The role was effectively a telesales job. Employees were expected to make 200 calls, invite one client and secure interest from another prospective customer every day.
On July 28, Yang failed to complete two of those targets. Her manager, surnamed Zhang, reportedly gave her a choice between paying 50 yuan for each missed task or performing 100 squats per target.
“I have no money,” Yang said as she chose to complete all 200 squats.
HandoutWoman diagnosed with severe muscle breakdown after squat punishment
Yang filmed herself performing the squats in batches around the office building as proof for her supervisor. By the end, she was reportedly struggling to stand and staggered as she walked.
She experienced severe pain in both legs but did not initially seek treatment because she could not afford it. Five days later, Yang went to a hospital after noticing that her urine had turned dark.
Doctors diagnosed her with rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition caused by damaged muscle tissue rapidly breaking down. Severe cases can lead to kidney failure, although SCMP reported that Yang avoided kidney damage.
Yang said she spent approximately 1,400 yuan on treatment and resigned after her condition prevented her from working. She later requested reimbursement for her medical and transport costs, alongside 15,000 yuan in compensation.
DouyinZhang rejected the demand but admitted to on TV that the punishment broke employment rules.
“I also know that it violates labour law,” he said, arguing that sales companies must put employees under pressure to make money.
Yang has now filed a complaint with local labor inspectors, who said they would investigate. Zhang and Yang have not reached an agreement over compensation.
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
