Woman Suffers Rhabdomyolysis After Doing 200 Squats As Manager Punishes Her For Missing Sales Targets

We’ve all heard of bad bosses, but one Chinese manager recently took workplace punishment to a whole new level.

Yang, a woman in Hangzhou, started her first job as a financial consultant at a loan assistance company in June.

She worked in telesales, with her team manager, Zhang, requiring each employee to make 200 calls, invite one client, and get one client interested in working with the company every day.

On July 28, Yang failed to meet her daily targets. As punishment, Zhang gave her two choices for punishment: for each task that wasn't completed, she could either do 100 squats or pay 50 yuan (S$9.50).

Since she had not completed her tasks and could not afford the fine, Yang chose to do squats, and had to do a total of 200 squats to keep her job. She then filmed herself doing the squats around the office building as proof for her manager.

In the videos, she reportedly struggled to stand and staggered as she walked after completing the final few squats. She was also said to have felt severe pain in her legs. 

However, Yang delayed seeking medical attention for five days because of her financial situation, only going to the hospital after her urine turned dark.

She was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition where damaged muscles break down and release harmful substances into the bloodstream, which can, in severe cases, lead to kidney failure. The condition has been widely linked to spin classes, but can also happen to anyone engaging in high-intensity activities like CrossFit or military training, or even car crash victims. 

Yang’s creatine kinase level was over 16,000 U/L, far above the 1,000 U/L level commonly used to diagnose rhabdomyolysis.

Thankfully, Yang did not develop kidney failure and was told by her doctor to rest and avoid strenuous exercise.

She also revealed she spent 1,400 yuan (S$265) on treatment and resigned on July 30 as her condition left her unable to work. 

Yang believed the company was trying to push her out by setting unrealistic targets.

Yang reached out to Zhang to cover her medical and transport costs, along with 15,000 yuan (S$2,850) in compensation for her injury. The money was meant to help cover her living expenses for 75 days while she recovered and looked for a new job.

Zhang, however, rejected her request and told her to take legal action. 

Yang later turned to a local conflict-resolution TV programme, where Zhang admitted to breaking labour laws but said the company was not responsible. He also rejected the amount of compensation Yang requested.

Yang then filed a case with the local labour authorities, who are investigating the matter. 

Under Chinese labour law, employers who insult or physically punish workers can face penalties, with those responsible potentially facing up to 15 days in detention.

The case has since sparked outrage over Zhang’s actions, with many saying he deserved to be punished. But if there’s one thing Yang and others can take away from this, it’s that no job is ever worth putting your health at risk.