Fired For Kissing In Office, China Duo Takes Company To Court, Netizens Ask Sackable Affair?

New Delhi: A company in China fired two employees after they were found having an extra-marital affair and seen kissing each other at the work place. The employees, both into separate marriages, sued the company and demanded damages worth Rs 30 lakhs together. The incident has raised questions on whether company's action was justifiable or not. People also asked if a sackable offence or whether should have been involved in it. 

According to the South China Morning Post, two employees, both married, were sacked after they were found having an extramarital affair and kissing each other at work. The fired employees filed a lawsuit against the company alleging wrongful termination.

The two employees worked in the same department of a pharmaceutical company in China’s Sichuan province.

Their relationship came into public knowledge after Liu’s wife shared her husband’s chats with the company’s management in March 2020. Meanwhile, Chen's husband also confronted them at the workplace.

Liu later requested a leave from the company to address personal issues. 

Meanwhile, the company issued a warning to both the employees to mind their action, but they continued with the affair and were also seen kissing at the work place.

Back in October 2020, a co-worker confronted Chen at the workplace following which they had an argument. Following this, at least seven other co-workers at the company submitted a complaint against the couple, which resulted in company terminating both the employees.

However, Liu and Chen filed a lawsuit against their termination and demanded damages worth 230,000 yuan (Rs 27 lakhs approx) and Rs 26,000 yuan (Rs 3 lakhs approx). 

During the hearing, the company defended its decision to terminate the two employees saying they violated company's employee handbook. The company alleged that the two damaged company's image which led to a negative influence.

The court ruled in favour of the company and upheld Liu and Chen's termination.

Reacting on this incident, a user on social media platform, X, said their personal lives and love are none of their employers' business.