Hangzhou employee develops rhabdomyolysis after forced to perform 200 squats

A female employee in Hangzhou, China, has been diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis after being forced by her manager to perform 200 squats as punishment for failing to meet workplace performance targets.

Ms. Yang, a 29-year-old financial consultant at the Hangzhou branch of Suzhou Dongrong Information Technology Co., Ltd., reported that her manager, surnamed Zhang, offered her a choice on July 28: perform 100 squats for each missed target or pay a 50 yuan fine. Due to financial constraints, Yang chose the physical punishment and recorded videos of the exercise as proof for her supervisor.

Following the punishment, Yang experienced severe leg pain and difficulty walking. She delayed seeking medical attention due to costs until her urine changed color. Doctors confirmed she suffered from rhabdomyolysis, a condition where muscle breakdown can lead to kidney damage. Her creatine kinase levels reportedly reached 160,000 U/L, significantly exceeding normal ranges.

Manager Zhang admitted to the physical punishment, acknowledging it violated labor laws but stating it was intended to apply pressure to meet sales goals. Yang has since resigned and is seeking 15,000 yuan in compensation for personal injury and living expenses, a demand the company has not met.