Chinese worker goes viral after sleeping five hours at work in pay protest

A female employee in Shangqiu, central China, has gone viral after reportedly sleeping for five hours during office hours in protest over low pay.

According to a report by South China Morning Post, the woman—whose identity and workplace have not been disclosed—was dissatisfied with her salary and believed her employer treated her poorly.

In response, she deliberately fell asleep at her desk and remained asleep for five hours.

When questioned by her boss after waking, she reportedly refused to admit wrongdoing and instead took chocolates from his desk, which he used to manage his sugar levels.

In a post shared online, the woman claimed her employer suffers from glucopenia—a condition involving low sugar levels in body tissues—and alleged that he became unwell at the office due to not receiving sugar on time.

Addressing criticism on social media, she defended her actions, stating she intended to send a clear message to her employer that “you get what you pay for.”

She also remarked that those criticising her fail to understand the struggles of low-paid workers.