In a rare and controversial legal ruling, a court in China has classified the death of a 60-year-old security guard, who passed away while having sex during working hours, as an “industrial accident.” The decision has entitled the man’s family to compensation under China’s workplace injury law.
The deceased, identified by his surname Zhang, served as the sole security guard at a small Beijing-based factory. According to South China Morning Post, Zhang had been working without any official days off and was expected to remain on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Zhang died suddenly on October 6, 2014, while having sex with his girlfriend in the factory’s security room, which also doubled as his resting quarters. Police confirmed the cause of death as natural and ruled out any foul play.
Son’s Compensation Claim Initially Rejected
A year after Zhang’s death, his son filed for compensation through the Municipal Social Security Bureau. However, authorities rejected the request, arguing that the incident stemmed from a personal activity unrelated to his job duties.
Challenging the decision, Zhang’s son filed a lawsuit against both the factory and the bureau. He argued that since his father had been required to stay on the premises round-the-clock, the death occurred within the scope of his work environment and duty hours.
Court Recognizes Death as Work-Related
In 2016, the court sided with Zhang’s family. The judges ruled that Zhang’s activities, including rest and personal relationships—were part of his day-to-day life as a full-time worker bound to the workplace at all times.
A higher court upheld the ruling after both the factory and the social security bureau filed appeals. Ultimately, in February 2017, authorities officially recognized Zhang’s death as a workplace accident under China’s Industrial Injury Insurance Rule.
While the amount of compensation remains undisclosed, the legal victory ensures that Zhang’s family is eligible for insurance and related benefits.
