World · Vietnam Bureau
Chinese saleswoman hospitalized after forced exercise punishment for missed quota
A 29-year-old telemarketing employee in Hangzhou was admitted to hospital with severe muscle breakdown after her employer ordered her to perform 200 squats as penalty for failing to meet daily sales targets. The worker chose the physical punishment rather than pay a fine she could not afford.
LSN Vietnam ·
The incident highlights growing concerns over workplace discipline practices in China's competitive sales sector. The woman, employed at a telesales firm in the eastern city of Hangzhou, was unable to complete her assigned sales quota and faced a choice between paying a financial penalty or undergoing physical punishment. Unable to afford the fine, she opted to perform the 200 squats as an alternative consequence.
The strenuous exercise triggered acute muscle breakdown, a serious medical condition in which muscle tissue deteriorates and releases harmful substances into the bloodstream. She was subsequently hospitalized for treatment of her condition, which required medical intervention to prevent complications.
The case raises questions about the legality and ethics of physical punishment as a workplace disciplinary measure. While performance-based penalties are common in Chinese sales industries, the use of forced exercise as punishment remains controversial and may violate labor regulations designed to protect worker safety and dignity.
The incident comes amid increasing scrutiny of workplace practices in China's service sector, where high-pressure sales environments and aggressive quota systems have been linked to employee health and safety concerns in recent years.