China's Supreme People's Court has ruled in favor of a company's decision to legally terminate an employee's contract after she repeatedly violated company rules by using umbrellas to block surveillance cameras at her workstation.
The incident dates back to June 2019, when a Shenzhen-based company installed high-definition cameras in the workplace, one of which was positioned above the cubicle of an employee named Wang. Concerned about potential privacy invasion and wardrobe malfunctions, Wang shielded the camera with two umbrellas.
Despite verbal and written warnings from the company's management, Wang maintained her stance for over ten working days. The company argued that her actions disrupted the office environment, violated company disciplines, and negatively influenced other employees.
On July 17, 2019, the company terminated Wang's contract for serious disciplinary violations. Wang disagreed, claiming her actions did not affect company management and filed a lawsuit demanding 335,124 yuan ($46,213) in compensation.
The court of first instance rejected Wang's claim, a decision she appealed. The second instance court found her behavior constituted a serious violation of labor disciplines, legitimizing the contract termination. Wang then sought a final verdict from the Supreme People's Court.
After a thorough review, the Supreme Court upheld the lower courts' rulings, stating that while labor law protects employees, they must also adhere to company rules. The court emphasized that Wang's actions impacted the company's normal operations and caused a negative effect on colleagues.
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