In China’s tech hubs, the “996” work schedule—9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week—has become a brutal badge of honor, praised by CEOs as the secret to corporate success. Companies like Alibaba and Huawei famously endorse this grind, framing it as a patriotic duty. But behind the rhetoric lies a reality where work consumes life, leaving little room for sleep, family, or basic human needs.
The 996 model gained notoriety after Alibaba founder Jack Ma called it a “blessing” for young workers. Tech giants claim such hours fuel innovation, pointing to China’s meteoric rise in global tech. Yet employees pay the price: 72-hour workweeks, chronic fatigue, and a term—“guolaosi” (death from overwork)—that’s entered everyday vocabulary. In 2021, a 22-year-old Pinduoduo employee collapsed and died after logging 300 hours in a single month, sparking outrage and rare public protests.
The schedule isn’t technically legal. China’s labor laws cap work at 44 hours weekly, but enforcement is lax. Employers sidestep rules by labeling staff as “contractors” or rewarding overtime with vague promises of promotions. Office perks like nap pods and free midnight snacks sweeten the deal, blurring the line between workplace and home. As one programmer joked, “My desk has a toothbrush. My apartment has a desk. What’s the difference?”
Critics argue 996 backfires long-term. Burnout rates soar, creativity plummets, and turnover costs companies millions. A 2022 study linked excessive overtime to a 40% drop in productivity per hour. Yet the culture persists, fueled by fear of layoffs and societal pressure to “hustle hard.” Young workers joke about “earning graves before earning gravesites,” while dating profiles boast, “I survive on 996 and energy drinks.”
The government sends mixed signals. In 2021, regulators condemned 996 as illegal, yet state media still glorifies tech CEOs who preach self-sacrifice. Meanwhile, “tang ping” (lying flat)—a youth movement rejecting overwork—gains traction online, with millions vowing to “do the minimum and live slowly.”
So, while 996 may turbocharge GDP, it’s a Faustian bargain. Employees trade health for paychecks, companies burn talent for short-term gains, and society grapples with a generation too exhausted to innovate. Next time you complain about a 40-hour week, remember: somewhere in Shenzhen, a coder is on hour 80, dreaming of a day off… or just dreaming. After all, sleep is a luxury when your office chair doubles as a bed.
