A 30-year-old factory worker in Thailand tragically collapsed and died a day after her manager denied her request for sick leave. This incident has sparked renewed discussions about work-life balance worldwide.
According to the Bangkok Post, the woman, identified only as May, was employed at an electronics plant in Samut Prakan province. She had previously taken sick leave from September 5 to 9 with a medical certificate due to an inflamed large intestine, spending four days in the hospital for treatment. After her discharge, she requested an additional two days of sick leave, as her condition had not improved.
On the evening of September 12, May asked her manager for another day off, explaining that her health had worsened. The manager insisted she report to work and submit another medical certificate, citing her previous sick leave.
Concerned about job security, May went to work on September 13 but collapsed after just 20 minutes, according to a friend. She was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery but sadly passed away the following day from necrotizing enterocolitis.
Company Responds
Delta Electronics Thailand expressed its devastation over May’s death in a statement released on September 17.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of our employee and are committed to investigating this incident thoroughly,” said Victor Cheng, CEO of Delta Electronics (Thailand) PCL, in a Facebook post.
“The company prioritizes transparency and responsibility, and we will keep all relevant parties updated as more information becomes available. Our focus now is on providing support to May’s family during this difficult time.”
