Denied Sick Leave, 30-Year-Old Woman Collapses At Work And Dies

May was quickly rushed back to the hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery. Unfortunately, despite the medical team’s best efforts to save her, she passed away the following day

A 30-year-old factory worker in Thailand died just one day after her manager denied her request for sick leave. After the EY employee’s death, this tragic incident has again sparked concerns about work-life balance in the workplace. The deceased, identified as May, was employed at an electronics plant in the Samut Prakan area.

According to the Bangkok Post, May had been diagnosed with an inflamed large intestine and had taken sick leave from September 5 to September 9, backed by a medical certificate. After spending four days in the hospital for treatment, she returned home but continued to feel unwell and requested an additional two days of sick leave.

On September 12, May approached her manager to request another day off, explaining that her condition had deteriorated. However, her manager insisted that she return to work and provide a new medical certificate, citing her previous sick days. Fearing for her job security, May felt compelled to report for duty on September 13. Tragically, she collapsed just 20 minutes into her shift, as per a friend, states the report. This incident has raised serious concerns about workplace policies and prioritising employee health.

May was quickly rushed back to the hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery. Unfortunately, despite the medical team’s best efforts to save her, she passed away the following day due to necrotising enterocolitis, a severe condition that affects the intestines.

In response to this incident, Delta Electronics Thailand issued a statement on September 17 expressing sorrow over May's untimely death. The company conveyed that it was "devastated" by the loss of their employee and announced plans to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. 

“At Delta Electronics, our people are the foundation of our success, and we are devastated by this loss. Our priority is to provide unwavering support to the employee’s family at this trying time,” said Victor Cheng, CEO of Delta Electronics (Thailand) PCL, in a statement shared on Facebook. He also stressed the company’s commitment to transparency, ensuring they will keep all relevant parties updated as more information emerges.