Toilet breaks under the clock: Company enforces 2-minute limit, fines for violators

A company in southern China has introduced a controversial "Toilet Usage Management Rule," effective from February 11, which imposes strict restroom usage restrictions on its employees.

The policy limits bathroom visits to designated time slots and caps usage time to two minutes per visit.

New rule to improve workplace discipline

Three Brothers Machine Manufacturing Company, based in Foshan, Guangdong province, claims the new rule is designed to improve workplace discipline, enhance efficiency, and foster better employee attitudes. According to a report by South China Morning Post (SCMP), employees are allowed to use the restroom only during specific intervals:

Employees working overtime are permitted bathroom access after 9 pm. If workers need to urinate outside of these hours, they must complete their visit within two minutes.

Strict monitoring and penalties

In a bid to enforce the rule, the company will monitor bathroom usage through surveillance cameras. Employees who fail to comply with the policy will face fines of 100 yuan. The rule is in its pilot phase until the end of February, with official implementation scheduled for March 1.

Legal challenges

The policy has sparked significant concern, with experts and workers questioning its legality and impact on health. Chen Shixing, a lawyer from Guangdong Yiyue Law Firm, told SCMP that the rule violates labour laws by jeopardizing employees' health.

Under Chinese labour law, changes to worker hours, salaries, and rest periods must involve discussions with employees or their representatives.

Public Outcry

The policy has met with widespread backlash both online and within the company. Some workers have expressed frustration with the rule, with one online commenter describing it as "unscrupulous," while referencing the traditional Chinese medical text, Huang Di Nei Jing, which advises against working after dusk and stresses the importance of rest.

An editorial in Beijing News criticised the rule as an example of authoritarian management, labeling it as an arbitrary decision that disregards employee welfare.

In response to the public outcry, the company announced on February 13 that it would revoke the rule. This decision followed widespread objections from employees, as reported by the Yangcheng Evening News.