Put lives first in natural disasters

A manager demoted by her firm for fleeing an office building during last year's Sichuan earthquake has sued her employer. This case raises the question whether life or corporate rules should be prioritized in a natural disaster, says an article on the website www.china.com.cn. The following is an excerpt:

During the tragic Sichuan earthquake last year, HR manager Ms Li was stopped by her boss as she tried to flee her firm's office building when two consecutive aftershocks struck Chengdu. Thereafter her salary was slashed for "severely violating basic rules" of the firm.

This prompted her to resign and sue the firm. Recently, legal proceedings began. In extreme circumstances like natural disasters, life should be the first priority. The deed of Ms Li's firm was irresponsible for jeopardizing its employees' lives.