Fever-struck employee requests sick leave, gets called ' too weak' instead. HR fired after internet outrage

Time of India

18 hours ago

After a Chinese worker requested an hour of sick leave due to fever, she was insulted by her HR supervisor with sexist and demeaning comments. Despite staying at work, her account was disabled, and pay withheld. Her viral post prompted a government investigation, resulting in the supervisor's dismissal and sparking wider discussion on workplace empathy and labour rights.
A female employee in southeastern China was verbally abused by her HR supervisor after requesting an hour's sick leave for a fever. Despite continuing her work, she was mocked as 'too weak' and told to seek psychiatric help. (Representational image: iStock)
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Sick Leave Becomes a Social Mirror
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From "Personal Dispute" to Public Reckoning
'At least have sympathy'
When a young employee requested just an hour off due to a 37.9°C fever, she wasn't expecting sympathy—but what she received instead was a barrage of cruel words. The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, had hoped for a short respite to recover while continuing her tasks. Instead, she faced a nearly two-hour verbal tirade from her human resources supervisor, surnamed Huang.According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the incident occurred in southeastern China and came to public attention on June 5, when the employee shared her ordeal on social media. The screenshots she posted soon went viral—not for the leave request, but for the abusive and demeaning messages she received in response.'You're too weak. My goodness, can't even handle 38 degrees?' Huang wrote, dismissing the fever. The insults spiralled further into disturbing territory. 'Is your brain fried from the fever today, or is your menstrual period blocked and not arriving, so you can't think before you speak?' the HR supervisor added.Despite the toxic exchange, the employee remained at work, coordinating with her team to fulfil her duties. But Huang's harassment didn't end. 'You took leave but didn't go; you just stayed there without working properly. Your actions and words don't match – you should see a psychiatrist,' she texted, questioning the woman's mental stability.The case struck a chord across social media. In a country where Labour Law protects the right to sick leave and prohibits termination during illness, the public viewed this not as an isolated office spat, but a reflection of broader workplace insensitivities. The emotional nature of the insults—mocking illness, questioning mental health, and making gendered remarks—sparked widespread anger.Online platforms were flooded with messages of support. One user wrote: 'How ridiculous! Many entertainment companies treat employees this way. I have decided I will never work in this industry again.' Another urged accountability: 'As a human being, you should at least have sympathy and empathy. I urge the entire internet to block this HR supervisor. With such character and conduct, you'll only bring harm wherever you go.'Initially, the company claimed the incident was a "personal dispute" between two employees. But the narrative quickly unraveled as the Xiaoshan District's Human Resources and Social Security Bureau launched an official investigation.As reported by Jimu News, the company later confirmed the employee would not face any disciplinary measures or loss of performance-based pay. More significantly, the supervisor at the centre of the controversy was dismissed. Business data platform Tianyancha confirmed that the company terminated Huang's contract citing violations of internal policies.The incident, while specific in its details, raises broader questions about how companies handle employee well-being, especially in high-pressure industries. It has prompted a wider public conversation on the urgent need for emotional intelligence, sensitivity, and compliance with labour rights in workplace management.What began as a request for a short sick break ended up exposing a culture of insensitivity that still simmers beneath the surface in many work environments. This case, now closed with a dismissal and a public apology, leaves behind a louder call—one that asks not just for accountability, but for a reimagining of how illness, vulnerability, and dignity are treated in the corridors of power.In the end, the words that linger aren't just from the HR supervisor, but from the netizens who responded: 'As a human being, you should at least have sympathy and empathy.'