A man, surnamed Li, who is in his late 20s, was found dead in his office in Wuhan, China, after reportedly working several consecutive days of overtime.
He had been managing the workload of about 400 students while also responding to ongoing queries from parents.
Li had spent several years working for an education company that provides online English and Mathematics lessons for both primary and secondary school students.
Stayed Late on April 22, Found Dead the Next Morning
On Monday, 22 April 2025, Li went to the office and stayed back to complete pending work. When his fiancée couldn’t reach him that night, she became alarmed and contacted the police.
Unfortunately, a janitor found Li unresponsive in the office the next morning, and he was later confirmed to have died from sudden cardiac arrest.
Days of Overtime Work, and Was Due to Marry
According to SCMP, Li had been working long hours for several days in a row, trying to complete tasks ahead of an upcoming break.
He was also supposed to get married on the 2nd of May, just over a week after his death.
The Company Responds, Labour Authority Involved
Labour authorities are now working with Li’s family and his employer to sort out the paperwork needed to officially recognise his passing as work-related.
The company issued a statement on 25 April expressing their grief, praising Li’s dedication, and promising to support his family during this time.
They also claimed that there were no overtime requirements for Li’s team.
Former Employees Speak Out
Despite the company’s statement, former employees have shared their experiences, alleging that the workplace culture was far from healthy.
Staff were allegedly required to report to their supervisors before going off for lunch and toilet breaks.
Additionally, another former employee said she left the job last year after developing anxiety due to the long working hours.
After the news of Li’s passing broke out, one tutor resigned the next day.
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‘Nobody from EY even attended her funeral’ – Heavy Workload Claims Life of Employee
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