Worker commits suicide over missing iPhone

kmart6

Not sure if this is more suitable for here or AH, move if ya want!

msnbc.com wrote:

An employee at a factory that makes iPhones in China killed himself after a prototype went missing. Apple Inc. offered its condolences Wednesday as the company waits for the results of an investigation.

The worker, Sun Danyong, 25, was a recent graduate in engineering who worked in product communications at Foxconn Technology Group. Foxconn is a Taiwanese firm that makes many Apple products at a massive factory in the southern city of Shenzhen, near Hong Kong.

The Southern Metropolis Daily newspaper said Sun — responsible for sending iPhone prototypes to Apple — noticed he was missing one of the 16 units he received on July 9. He reported the missing phone on July 13 and his apartment was searched by Foxconn employees, the Chinese-language report said.

Sun jumped to his death from the 12th floor of his apartment building July 16.

"We are saddened by the tragic loss of this young employee, and we are awaiting results of the investigations into his death," said Jill Tan, an Apple spokeswoman in Hong Kong. "We require our suppliers to treat all workers with dignity and respect."

'Deep pain and regret'
Apple is notorious for being extremely secretive about its new products, and Foxconn also has a reputation for being tightlipped about the goods it produces for its customers, which include some of the biggest brands in the technology industry.

Foxconn executive Li Jinming said in a statement that Sun's death showed that the company needed to do a better job helping its employees with psychological pressures.

"Sun Danyong graduated from a good school. He joined the company in 2008. He had an extremely bright future. The group and I feel deep pain and regret when a young person dies like this."

Local police would not respond to questions from The Associated Press.

Must of been terrified of what might happen to him to jump out a 12th floor window!

seamus

kmart6 wrote: »

Must of been terrified of what might happen to him to jump out a 12th floor window!

I'd say it's more the "humiliation" aspect. Honour is almost everything in Asian cultures. To be suspected of such foul play is alone enough to completely damage his credibility amongst his peers and from his point of view effectively ruin his life.

It's the same reason why Japanese company execs are notorious for committing suicide when the company goes tits-up: They feel that if you have no honour, you have nothing.

CyberGhost

Well, the Chinese mobile communist deathsquad would've been after him anyway, so I guess he told them "You can't fire me! I quit!".

Too bad though.

mika27

I read a slightly different version of this story a couple of days ago.

From evertiq.com
Foxconn with more trouble
Police will investigate the suicide of a Foxconn employee suspected of stealing an iPhone prototype. It is rumoured that the suicide followed inappropriate interogation methods by Foxconn's security department.

Unable to take the "unbearable interrogation techniques," the employee committed suicide, reports shanghaiist. Foxconn apparently issued an apology for the incident. The company also admitted that the section chief of the Central Security Division may have used "inappropriate interrogation methods". He has been suspended without pay and is under police investigation.

Stealdo

Jebus - 'innappropriate interrogation techniques' used by your employer?

Now that would solve our public service productivity issues - hopefully the government is keeping a firm eye on developments to snap this guy up if he becomes available.


(Not wanting to make light of the young man's death of course - RIP)