"Run-meetings", or working while running, are a controversial trend among office workers in major Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Large parks such as Chaoyang Park and Olympic Park are now being dubbed "outdoor offices", hosting client meetings and team discussions during runs.
Neil, a director at a Beijing enterprise, believes this method offers a dual benefit: utilizing work hours for physical training while helping employees connect with active clients. "Running helps the brain release dopamine, creating a positive feeling and fostering better connections," he stated.
However, as this trend expanded alongside China's marathon boom, it began to distort. According to a report from the country's Athletics Association, 2024 saw 749 running events with over 7 million participants. Many companies started treating participation as a key performance indicator (KPI), compelling employees to join to avoid negative evaluations.
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People running in a park in Beijing, 11/2024. Photo: China Daily |
In Hangzhou, Peng, 27, reported that her company mandated employees to run around West Lake at 7 AM daily. She and her colleagues had to pay for taxis to reach the assembly point and faced significant pressure to perform. Peng was once publicly criticized by her team leader during a meeting for running slower than the company's "standard pace".
More seriously, running became a pretext for employee purges. A notable case involved Mr. Liu in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, which sparked public outrage. Shortly after he began working, his company demanded he run 5 kilometers in 30 minutes under hot weather to prove his "hardworking spirit".
Due to his age and lack of training, Mr. Liu collapsed after running only one kilometer, experiencing exhaustion and dizziness. The company immediately fired him, citing his failure to meet probation requirements. Mr. Liu subsequently filed a lawsuit and won his case at the Suzhou Intermediate People's Court. The court ruled that forcing employees to run based on time criteria was illegal, violated labor rights, and ordered the company to compensate him approximately 7,000 yuan (nearly 1,000 USD).
Lawyer Yao Zhidou from Jingsh Law Firm commented that regardless of whether it's framed as building corporate culture or promoting health, employers imposing excessive physical activities and using them as a basis for dismissal is unlawful.
Strenuous Running: A Double-Edged Sword for Office Workers
Regarding the trend of pressuring employees to run, cardiologists and sports medicine doctors warn of a high risk of sudden death and severe injury for sedentary office workers.
Individuals who sit for 8-10 hours daily often have musculoskeletal systems unaccustomed to intense exercise and low cardiovascular endurance. Being forced to immediately run 5-10 kilometers or sprint without adequate physical preparation can rapidly push heart rates to their maximum.
"When the heart rate exceeds its tolerance limit for an extended period, the heart experiences localized oxygen deprivation, which can lead to dangerous arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation, causing cardiac arrest and sudden death on the running track," a Beijing cardiologist noted.
Beyond cardiovascular risks, acute rhabdomyolysis also poses a significant threat. This condition involves the breakdown of muscle cells due to overexertion, releasing myoglobin into the bloodstream. This can obstruct renal tubules, leading to acute kidney failure and death if not treated promptly.
Doctors advise office workers to start running at a slow pace, covering one to two kilometers (jogging), maintaining their heart rate within a safe zone (Zone 2-3), and absolutely avoiding running when exhausted or in extreme weather conditions.
Ngoc Ngan (According to The Star)
