The 996 Work Culture: A Concerning and Inhumane Situation. What's Wrong with 888 – or Perhaps 000?

At present, one popular cultural comfort choice is a period drama portraying Manhattan's elite during a prosperous era. An interesting thread briefly touches on steelworkers protesting for the concept of “888”: eight-hour periods for work, sleep, and recreation.

This concept was hardly new in the 1880s. The motto, attributed to activist Robert Owen, was first used in 1817. Before that, a 16th-century law reportedly limited workers in the colonies to eight-hour shifts.

How would Owen or Philip II of Spain react to “996”? This phrase describes working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days each a week – amounting to 72 hours of intense work. Starting in the China's digital economy, 996 was famously labeled a “blessing” by a well-known business leader. But, laborers disagreed, mobilizing online and even winning legal battles with companies.

Today, 996 is resurfacing – though it likely remained in practice. Sources show that workers in different fields are required to work 12-hour days. Within tech hubs, following such hours is seen as a way to get ahead. Recruitment posts explicitly mention absurdly long hours and stress that candidates need to be thrilled with the opportunity. Talent scouts are told that an openness to endure such hours is non-negotiable.

A media outlet announced that overwork ethos is making a comeback and more intense than before. A business owner summarized the philosophy as: “No drinking, no drugs, 996, lift heavy, run far, marry early, track sleep, eat steak and eggs.” Another posted about routinely working on Saturdays and Sundays and doing their best work during odd hours.

A lot of individuals find it confusing with this development. Hadn't we all fallen out of love with hustle culture? Encouraging results from shorter workweek trials demonstrate that almost every involved firms decided to stick with the alternative arrangement. Observing global examples, progressive labor practices that balance various life aspects do not necessarily hurt output and frequently result in more content and well-rounded people.

For instance of the Netherlands, with an average working week is around 32 hours. Even with shorter hours, the country has been economically outperforming other economies and places in the top five in the newest international satisfaction survey.

Moreover, reports indicate of increasing disinterest in overwork, particularly with younger generations. Studies conducted by well-known organizations showed that life outside work was listed as the key consideration when picking a job. Historically, this factor surpassed pay as a motivator.

How then does there exist renewed, harsh push for overwork? Two theories might explain this trend. One possibility, it might represent the last gasp of a outdated belief – an “extinction burst” before it disappears. On the other hand proposes new studies showing that too much labor results in cognitive shifts. Studies conclude that those with extreme schedules exhibit notable differences in areas of the brain related to decision-making and emotional regulation. Considering certain well-known tech leaders, such a conclusion seems plausible. Perhaps only those with cognitive differences could think that these conditions are healthy or productive.

Because industry insiders often love novelty, perhaps their tired brains could be swayed that extreme schedules are passe by introducing audacious alternatives. Which ideas could work? People imagine reduced schedules, approaching a thinker's formerly suggested 15-hour workweek. Alternate models feature a specific ratio of tasks to downtime, or spending limited office hours and longer periods in leisure. Perhaps branded cleverly and talk that it improves health, such concepts could be the new phenomenon in demanding work environments.