Programmer Dies in Company Restroom; Authorities Deny Work Injury Claim Citing Unstarted Computer

Xing Zhi (pseudonym), a 39-year-old programmer in Shenzhen, drove into the B2 parking garage of his company's office building at 8:56 a.m. on April 23, 2026.

At 9:00 a.m., he walked to the elevator lobby and asked the security guard on duty for the location of the second-floor restroom.

A minute later, he arrived at the restroom and never came out until he was found unconscious slumped on the toilet at 11:28 a.m. The company immediately administered first aid using an AED and called emergency services.

At 12:50 p.m., doctors ceased resuscitation efforts and confirmed Xing Zhi's death.

Following his passing, the company provided certain compensation and applied to the Shenzhen Human Resources and Social Security Bureau for work-related injury recognition. On July 3, the bureau issued a Decision of Non-Recognition of Work-Related Injury. The decision stated that his circumstances did not meet the criteria of Articles 9 and 10 of the Guangdong Provincial Work-Related Injury Insurance Regulations, and thus was not recognized or deemed equivalent to a work-related injury.

Staff from the work injury department stated that Xing Zhi's workstation was on the 11th floor; after clocking in, he went to the second-floor restroom without first going to his workstation or engaging in any work-related activities, therefore it could not be recognized as a work-related injury. Xing Zhi's family has filed an appeal. A successful work injury recognition would allow his family to receive a compensation of 1,130,040 yuan, along with funeral expenses and bereavement benefits.

Lawyers argue that restrooms in the workplace should be considered a reasonable extension of an employee's workstation.