"I Worked 20 Hours Yesterday": Factory Manager Sentenced to Prison Following Junior Employee's Final Text

A factory manager has been sentenced to prison for failing to take action while an employee worked 59 hours a week, exceeding the legal limit by 7 hours.

The Ulsan District Court, presided over by Judge EJAE of the 3rd Criminal Division, announced on Thursday (July 2) that it sentenced the defendant, a man in his 50s identified as A, to six months in prison for violating the Labor Standards Act.

In May 2023, a 20-something office worker, B, collapsed and died at an auto parts company in Ulsan where A serves as the factory manager.

While the Labor Standards Act stipulates a 40-hour workweek, with a maximum of 52 hours allowed by mutual agreement, it was revealed that B frequently worked beyond this limit.

As a junior office worker, B was often assigned to production tasks for two to three hours during the early morning after finishing his regular duties, especially when production volume increased.

It was confirmed that in the two months leading up to his death, B sent multiple messages to family and friends complaining about the heavy workload, stating, "I worked 20 hours yesterday. I am heading to work after only three hours of sleep. The factory manager makes me do this," "I am going in for a night shift on Sunday," and "My left chest hurts."

B eventually passed away due to an underlying condition after working up to 59 hours a week, exceeding the weekly overtime limit seven times.

During the trial, the defendant claimed that he was unaware B was working beyond the legal limit.

He argued that the company applied a comprehensive wage system, which pre-sets fixed overtime pay based on a 52-hour workweek, and that employees were allowed to work overtime autonomously.

However, the court did not accept the defendant's argument.

The court noted that the defendant was aware of B's early morning shifts, as evidenced by him telling B, "You worked hard through the night."

Furthermore, the court determined that as the top official at the factory, the defendant had a duty to monitor the working conditions of his staff but failed to properly oversee B's working hours and workload, leaving him neglected.

The court pointed out, "The defendant was reported to that office workers were being deployed to the production line for late-night shifts to meet delivery deadlines due to a backlog of orders and equipment malfunctions. He knew that B was working more than 52 hours a week but took no measures."

The court added, "The defendant has denied all charges and has not reached a settlement with the bereaved family to this day," explaining the reasons for the sentencing.

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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