Fighting back the "996" Working Culture
"996" is a popular internet slang in China, meaning that employees work from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., six days a week.
The 996 working culture is a common reality for many millennials working in the technology industry. Workers are likely to work longer hours which are usually not compensated. According to the 996 working pattern, the average working hours per week are up to 60 hours, exceeding the legal requirements, where employees' standard working schedule is eight hours a day and a maximum of 44 hours a week. The "996" work pattern is still quite common in Chinese internet companies. And there is a lack of transparency in the specific working hours of employees.
But at the same time, young people in China today have a different outlook on hard work than those from an earlier generation. Lots of young people think that work should not dominate their lives. Rather than being motivated by the promise of rewards, people are increasingly concerned about finding a balance between their work and personal life. The concept of "laying flat" is becoming popular among young people. It refers to the idea that people should not work too much but should be content with what they can achieve. For example, people are more likely to settle for a job with average pay and without requiring long hours.
The overtime culture of "996" may play a positive role in the early stage of enterprises. Yet, it doesn't help you achieve challenging goals or develop as a professional in the long run. It even does more harm than good for employees.
Choosing "996"?
In the Announcement of Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba: A person, who wants to earn more money and have a better life, needs to put in more effort than others. While working hard, you shall not deliberately emphasise the working hours, but make full use of every minute and improve efficiency to make the "996" meaningful. Also, as Elon Musk, an entrepreneur and founder of automotive giant Tesla, said, "No one has ever been able to change the world in 40 hours a week." Also, at times, the 996 work culture can be popular amongst some millennials as they are offered more incentives such as bonuses and stocks.
Regardless of which era, strivers are admirable where they use their efforts to achieve success and win the corresponding rewards. However, no one should HAVE TO work on a "996" schedule. Some people might think this is a great way to make money, while others might interpret this as an uncivilised and unhealthy way of life. We should not impose an excessive working schedule on others, which is against labor law and the nature of people's lives. People can all choose to put in the right amount of time to work and their ideal life. Netizens also point out: "We are not against the "996" but are against the "996" without extra pay."
The controversy over the "996" working system is a change in social attitudes, as the people's need to make a living begins to give way to the demand for a better quality of life. Rejecting 996 does not mean refusing to work hard but instead not accepting the corporate culture of using employees as machines. Life itself is diverse; every person searches for their dreams and values. It's what makes our world fascinating.
