If endurance played a major role in keeping your job, what’s the likelihood of getting your hands on the next paycheck? Will you still be sitting in the cubicle after the run or will you be directed to the door for your slow running speed?
A Chinese manufacturing company was under scrutiny for terminating employees who were unsuccessful in completing a three-mile race in 30 minutes. According to the company’s statement, “they lack hard-working spirit.” Even if they are good at their jobs, their performance on the tracks determines their fate with the company.
Liu, a man residing in Suzhou City, China’s Jiangsu Province, filed a “lawsuit against his former employer for wrongful termination after allegedly being fired for not being able to run three miles in 30 minutes at 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).”
Liu was able to land a job at a mechanical parts factory after successfully passing practical tests such as electric welding and gas cutting. After paying for a medical examination, Liu began working at the company in a maintenance position.
The new hire had no idea that there was one more test in the works. A few days after being employed, Liu was told by a company executive that he would have to participate in a long-distance running test. His colleagues warned him that this test should be taken very seriously and that failing to run the three miles in 30 minutes will get him kicked out of the company. Given the short notice, Liu had no time to train and, the weather reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of his run.
Liu claimed that after running approximately 800 meters in the scorching heat, he began to suffer heat stroke symptoms and stopped. He went back to work instead of pushing his body further. Even though no one said a word to him, the following day, he was informed that he had failed his probation period.
The company requires new employees to finish the three-mile long-distance run within 30 minutes. They are ruthless with the standard since any attempt that falls outside of those benchmarks is deemed unacceptable.
Liu couldn’t wrap his head around the bizarre requirement since the run wasn’t directly related to his job responsibilities. Rather than sulking at the termination, he dragged the company to court, citing that the management failed to notify him of the physical fitness test at the time of employment. Liu argued that his termination was illegal.
The Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court ruled in favor of Liu and demanded the company pay him $1,000 as compensation.
Source: https://weibo.com/2028810631/N6CeNstke?from=page_1002062028810631_profile&wvr=6&mod=weibotime