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Chinese Programmer Dies from Overwork, Leaves Work Message
1 Feb
Summary
- A 32-year-old Chinese programmer died from a sudden heart attack.
- His wife believes chronic overwork led to his untimely death.
- A work message arrived eight hours after his passing, causing outrage.
A 32-year-old Chinese programmer, Gao Guanghui, tragically passed away on November 29, 2025, from a sudden heart attack. His wife believes his death was a direct result of chronic overwork, a sentiment that ignited a significant work-life balance debate across Chinese social media platforms. Gao had recently been promoted to team leader, a role that normalized long working hours.
His condition worsened while he was working from home, leading to his collapse and subsequent pronouncement of death at a hospital. The situation escalated when a work-related message was received on Gao's phone approximately eight hours after his passing. This incident amplified public outrage regarding China's 'always-on' work culture and its conflict with labor laws.
