Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

A Chinese company has sparked outrage online for putting a timer in the workers’ toilet.

Photos of the ticking clock above the toilet cubicles were widely circulated on Chinese social networks such as Weibo, sparking outrage that workers were being hurried into carrying out their business.

Following the online backlash, the Beijing-based company, name not disclosed, explained why they installed a timer in the toilets.

Bosses said the time was needed for a study on the building’s toilet facilities as workers spend a lot of time queuing to get in the loo.

As they cannot install more toilet facilities in the building due to its structure, bosses said they set up a timer above only one cubicle to find out how often it was used in a day and the average time workers spent relieving themselves.

In the images, a digital timer is seen suspended above a toilet cubicle with a sign on the door.

It is unclear what the company plans to do with the study results.

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