Chinese firm under fire for clicking photos of employees in washroom to shame them over long breaks

A Chinese company has come under fire after photographing employees using the restroom and displaying the images as a public warning against long bathroom breaks. The controversial practice by Lixun Diansheng, a company based in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, has drawn widespread condemnation online.
The company reportedly printed and displayed photos of several employees using the toilet on the restroom wall as punishment for allegedly misusing bathroom time to smoke or play mobile games. According to reports from January 20, the employees were said to have ignored knocks on the door, prompting staff to use a ladder to capture images from above.
In an attempt to justify its actions, Lixun Diansheng said that the photos served as a deterrent against such behaviour. The company also reiterated its policy against smoking in restrooms. However, it later removed the images after a few hours, admitting that they "did not look good."
The revelation, which came to light after being exposed online, has provoked an outcry from netizens and legal experts alike. Many criticised the company's actions as a gross violation of privacy and human dignity.
Zhu Xue, a lawyer from Celue Law Firm, told Chinese media outlet Jimu News that the company had infringed upon its employees' privacy. "Companies should not record and manage employees' laziness or misconduct using illegitimate methods," Zhu said.
Public reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, with many questioning the company's ethics and legal awareness. "The first thing that the company thought of was that the photos did not look good rather than that they were illegal, evidence that the company lacked proper legal education," one online observer remarked. Another critic asked, "Are they employees or slaves?"