The sudden death of a 32-year-old software professional in China has triggered widespread public outrage and reopened debate on excessive working hours in the country’s technology sector.

Tech professional collapses during weekend work

According to Chinese media reports, Gao Guanghui, a middle-level manager in the software division of CVTE Group, collapsed at his residence in Guangzhou on November 29 while working from home on a Saturday. He was rushed to hospital but could not be revived.

Hospital records show Gao was admitted at 9.46 am and declared clinically dead around 1 pm. The listed cause of death was “sudden respiratory and cardiac arrest, Stokes-Adams syndrome?”, a condition linked to severe heart rhythm disturbances and sudden cardiac death (as explained on Wikipedia).

Work messages even during medical emergency

What shocked the public most were claims by Gao’s family that he continued receiving work-related messages while doctors were attempting to save his life. During emergency treatment, he was allegedly added to a WeChat work group, where a colleague asked him to “help process this order”.

Even more disturbingly, another work message reportedly arrived nearly eight hours after his death, referring to an “urgent task” scheduled for Monday morning. Family members also claimed that system records showed Gao logged into the company’s work platform multiple times on the day he died.

Family alleges chronic overwork

Gao’s wife stated that prolonged overwork caused his sudden death. Due to staff shortages, he was reportedly handling the workload of six to seven people, balancing software development, management responsibilities, client coordination, and after-sales support.

She said Gao typically slept only six to seven hours a night, left home at 7 am, and often returned close to midnight. His income structure, described as “low base, high performance”, allegedly pushed him to take on excessive workloads.

Official probe underway

Following public outrage, the company has applied for work-related injury recognition. Local labour authorities in Guangzhou have accepted the application, though a final decision is awaited.


#ChinaTech #OverworkCulture #WorkplaceStress #TechIndustry #newskarnataka


#ChinaTech #OverworkCulture #WorkplaceStress #TechIndustry #newskarnataka