Xing Zhi was 39 years old, had two children, and followed a routine that had made him familiar with every corner of his office in Shenzhen. That April morning, he arrived as usual, but instead of sitting down at his computer, he asked where the second-floor bathroom was.
He never returned. When they noticed his absence and went to look for him, they found him collapsed on the floor. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. To this day, the exact cause of his death has not been disclosed.
His company asked for the death to be recognized as work-related. The human resources and social security authorities rejected the request in July: according to their argument, Xing ‘was neither at his workplace nor working’ because he had not turned on his computer or begun his workday. His wife says he used to stay until nine at night, and once until nearly two in the morning, and she is now fighting for an administrative review. A lawyer argues that the bathroom should be considered part of the work environment. In 2024, a Guangdong court had already ruled in favor of a chef who died under nearly identical circumstances.