996 work culture

Extracted Attributes

• Name

  996 working hour system

• Variants

  8106 (8am-10pm, 6 days/week), 997 (9am-9pm, 7 days/week), 007 (24 hours/day availability, 7 days/week)

• Criticisms

  Violation of labor laws, 'modern slavery', causes burnout, health issues, declining job satisfaction

• Definition

  Work schedule requiring employees to work from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, 6 days per week

• Origin Context

  Overtime became a norm in the 1970s with China's economic policies for development

• Legality Status

  Illegal under the Labour Law of the People's Republic of China

• Common Industries

  Chinese internet and tech companies, tech startups, AI firms

• Total Weekly Hours

  72 hours

• Proponents' Arguments

  Leads to faster growth, rapid innovation, competitive advantage

• Impact on AI Competition

  Underscores China's technical advances in AI, contrasting with the West's approach

Timeline

• Working overtime became a norm in China, driven by economic policies to develop the economy and gain a 'first-mover' advantage. (Source: web_search_results)

  1970s

• An 'anti-996' protest was launched via GitHub, highlighting growing discontent with the system. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2019-03

• Alibaba's founder, Jack Ma, endorsed the 996 work culture as a 'huge blessing' and essential for ambitious professionals, sparking public backlash. (Source: web_search_results)

  2019

• China's Supreme Court, in conjunction with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, declared the 996 work culture illegal. (Source: web_search_results)

  2021-08

• Following the Supreme Court's ruling, major tech companies like Bytedance and Kuaishou began implementing changes to reduce overtime and adjust office hours. (Source: web_search_results)

  2021-08

996 working hour system

The 996 working hour system (Chinese: 996工作制) is a work schedule practiced illegally by some companies in China. It derives its name from its requirement that employees work from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, 6 days per week, so 12 hours per day and 72 hours per week. A number of Mainland Chinese internet and tech companies have adopted this system as their official or de facto work schedule. Critics argue that the 996 working hour system is a violation of the Labour Law of the People's Republic of China and have called it "modern slavery". In March 2019, an "anti-996" protest was launched via GitHub. Since then, the 996 issue has been met with growing discontent in China.

Web Search Results

• What is 996 Work Culture & How It Impacts Employee Wellbeing

  . Illegal under Chinese labor law, but still practiced. Causes burnout, health issues, and declining job satisfaction. Some companies now face pushback and government scrutiny. What Is 996 Work Culture in China? The 996 work culture refers to a work schedule often found in Chinese tech companies. It has shaped the lives of many young workers and led to numerous debates about jobs, health, and what constitutes fair work. ### The Meaning of “996” [...] The “996” work system refers to a schedule that involves working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. That adds up to 72 hours at work every week. Usually, these extra hours are unpaid. You do not receive overtime pay, and long shifts can become the norm rather than the exception. This is especially common in tech startups, but other industries in China have also adopted it. [...] In August 2021, China’s Supreme Court said that the 996 work culture is illegal. This ruling followed reports of worker deaths and widespread public concern about poor work-life balance. Since then, some major tech companies, such as Bytedance and Kuaishou, have implemented changes to reduce overtime. They have started to adjust their office hours and policies, making them closer to what the law allows.

• Understanding Chinese Work Culture: 2025 Guide for Leaders

  In 2019, Alibaba's founder, Jack Ma, stirred significant public reaction when he endorsed the demanding "996" work culture (9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week) as essential for ambitious professionals. His comments on social media, stating that 996 was a "huge blessing" and a pathway to success, sparked a backlash from employees and state media, reflecting the growing conflict between traditional hard-work ideals and modern calls for work-life balance in China. This controversy provides insight [...] As awareness of the challenges posed by the 996 working hour system increases, many companies in China are reexamining the Chinese work ethic to emphasize the importance of work-life balance for sustainable success. The intense demands of the 996 culture have led to heightened employee stress and burnout, driving a reassessment of traditional practices. In response, various sectors, particularly technology, are embracing more balanced work schedules. | | [...] ### 996 Work Schedule: Two Sides of the Same Coin The impact of the 996 work schedule on productivity, innovation, and employee morale is multifaceted. On the one hand, proponents of the 996 system argue that longer hours can lead to faster growth, enabling companies to innovate more rapidly and stay ahead in highly competitive industries like tech. The intense work environment fosters a sense of urgency and dedication, where employees are constantly pushing boundaries to deliver results.

• Are Gen Z disrupting Chinese work culture? - Daxue Consulting

  996 is a term to describe working shifts that would start from 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week totaling a whooping 72 hours per week. The origin of this particular work culture dates back to the 1970’s with China’s economic policies and opening to the West. In order to develop the Chinese economy and lift the country out of poverty, working overtime became a norm. It was considered crucial to work around the clock to gain a “first-mover” advantage over competitors. [...] The work culture in China, particularly the 996 and 007 work cultures, encourage employees to put in long hours in order to distinguish themselves and achieve promotion. As part of their typical workload, employees are frequently required to work overtime and on weekends. The IT industry in China is infamous for its lengthy work hours. Some of the largest groups have 72-hour work weeks as part of the infamous 996 work culture. [...] There are other variants to the 996-work culture such as 8106 (from 8am to 10pm, 6 days per week), 997 (from 9am to 9pm, 7 days per week). However, the 007 work culture is the most striking. Under this work culture, an employee would have to work from 0am to 0pm 7 days per week, in other words, 24 hours a day, which means he or she would have to be available online all day. With the development of the internet and technology, it has been easier to work out of the office. Consequently, work

• The 996 Culture Debate: Are 72-Hour Workweeks The Future?

  Once upon a time, we believed that we’d see the last of the obsessive hustle culture that had dominated the tech sphere for years, but with the rise of the “996” culture debate, it’s evident that Silicon Valley startups are determined to bring it back. China’s outlawed 996 work model has now taken hold of many tech startups, particularly in the field of AI. The 996 trend among AI firms refers to a work system of working from 9 AM to 9 PM six days a week. Sounds like overkill? It sure does, but [...] China’s job market is known for being competitive, and the 996 work culture is perhaps one of the most evident signs of it. In recent years, however, there have been attempts to dial it down. The country’s Supreme People’s Court and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security came together to declare the practice of working 12-hour days for six days a week as illegal in 2021, however, some habits are hard to break. While traces of such extreme working conditions can still be found, in [...] ### Startups May Even Be Open to Making Employees Work 7-Day Weeks The 996 culture debate was largely kick-started by UK-based venture capitalist Harry Stebbings, who indicated that to be a truly competitive organization, even a 996 system was not enough. Businesses that want to lead need to commit to a 007 model where employees work seven days a week, supported by a rotational workforce that can switch out and keep the progress going without interruptions.

• Why China's 996 Work Culture Won't Win The Future Of Work - Forbes

  Some U.S. tech companies are now hiring for “996,” a schedule imported from China’s startup scene that means working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. The idea is to compete harder, move faster, and win the AI race. That’s an odd pairing. AI represents the future, while a 996 work culture — like return-to-office mandates — belongs firmly in the past. It’s a symptom of a deeper misunderstanding about what the future of work is really about. ## More Hours Don’t Equal More Innovation [...] Here’s the irony. While some companies are doubling down on control in the name of the AI race, AI is removing routine tasks allowing people to focus on creativity, resilience, and innovation — the very things automation can’t replicate. But only if leaders design for that — and a 996 work culture doesn’t. You don’t win the future by working like it’s 1996. You win by building organizations that understand the world has changed. And that the people building the future want more than a paycheck