China and Hong Kong’s ‘996’ work culture is bad for employees’ mental health, and ultimately bad for employers

Studies show that overwork can have a number of harmful effects on employees that will be reflected in the quality of their work, and that more flexible hours have benefits

Reading Time:3 minutes

Employers who expect their workers to put in excessive hours can count on less efficiency, lost hours due to health problems and, over the long term, more employee turnover. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 2:00pm, 24 May 2019Updated: 7:32pm, 24 May 2019

China’s “996” work culture – a schedule of 9am-9pm, six days a week – has become a hot topic. For those who enjoy what they do, it’s not a problem. But, for those who don’t enjoy their job, or have no choice but to work, every minute could be torture.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warns that overtime is associated with deteriorating health, including weight gain, more smoking and alcohol consumption, injuries, illness and even death. Researchers also found that excessive overtime increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Commenting on the “996” culture, the People’s Daily said that although industry is facing economic pressure and anxiety, mandatory implementation of such a culture is not a solution, as it not only reflects managers’ arrogance but is also unrealistic and unjust.

It argues for a more comprehensive system of management that includes incentives. In fact, China’s Labour Law stipulates a maximum eight-hour working day, while an average working week should not exceed 44 hours. In practice, however, especially in factories, this is not always the case.

Many young migrant workers, especially from rural regions, struggle to adjust to such military-style management. A report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences last year indicated that people in China spent an average of 2.27 hours per day on recreation, less than half that of people in the US, Germany and the UK.

Working conditions in Hong Kong are not much better. According to the latest government statistics, more than 670,000 employees – or 20 per cent of the labour force – worked over 55 hours a week in the past year, including many security guards and catering industry employees who worked more than 60 hours per week.

China and Hong Kong’s ‘996’ work culture is bad for employees’ mental health, and ultimately bad for employers

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Studies show that overwork can have a number of harmful effects on employees that will be reflected in the quality of their work, and that more flexible hours have benefits

Studies show that overwork can have a number of harmful effects on employees that will be reflected in the quality of their work, and that more flexible hours have benefits