The 411 on 996

Recently in LinkedIn I saw a job listing that made me go, Hmm.

If you’re not familiar with the platform, sometimes job postings just appear on your feed. I’ve written before about how many job posts are absolute garbage. Many are simply trying to recruit people to job-sourcing websites. But this one was posted by a woman who was looking for an assistant.

She included things like, if I’m working, you’re working. I don’t want to hear a complaint about the long hours. It came off more like she wanted to own someone than hire them. It would have been laughable if it wasn’t so serious.

I thought the days of working around the clock were over. Unless you’re an entrepreneur and you have no choice. But 996 is a trend in employment now. It stands for working twelve-hour days, 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week. It used to be the norm in China’s tech sector until it was outlawed. (But many companies still do it.) Now 996 is a badge of honour for young workers in Silicon Valley.

They actually want to do it. There are instances of prospective employees asking if they can work a 72 hour week, please. Tech firms are also posting jobs with these nutty hours along with huge pay. (Say, a quarter-million dollars US right out of college.)

“We don’t believe in work-life balance,” Cognition CEO Scott Wu, writing in a leaked staff email.

What’s behind this trend?

A few things, according to experts:

1. Career advancement. Who will you promote? The person who clock-watches from 9-5 or the one who’s Krazy-glued to their desk?
2. Job security. Same as above. Competition is fierce for job vacancies. In the tech sector alone, tens of thousands have been laid off at Microsoft, etc.
3. Competition. American firms are trying to keep up with and outpace Chinese competitors.

Early in my radio career, I was expected to perform a lot of unpaid work. And I did. When the big boss says “boo hoo” after you’ve worked 21 days straight, there’s no one else to cry to. But coming into a job knowing 996 is expected is another thing altogether. It can’t possibly be healthy. Maybe some of them think, I’ll do this for three years, bank the money, and then get a life. Who knows?

I’m so glad I’m past that stage of working all out in order to prove myself. Latter stage self-employment may require some off-hours work but it’s at my choosing. Have fun microwaving Ramen noodle soup and drinking Pepsi from the vending machine, kids. I’ve probably worked as many hours some weeks. But I get to do it in my jammies, in my basement, with a purring cat nearby.

This weekend it’s Canadian Thanksgiving. Or as we in Canada call it: Thanksgiving! My work plans aren’t 996. They’re 000. I hope you enjoy it as well!