Chinese tech companies push staff to the limit

Chinese tech companies are intensifying pressure on employees as growth slows, demanding longer hours and higher productivity. Executives are cutting staff and imposing stricter requirements on those remaining due to low growth, rising competition, and investor disinterest. The industry's standard 996 work schedule (9 am to 9 pm, six days a week) is being enforced more rigorously, with companies like Pinduoduo setting an example by achieving high productivity through grueling work hours. Older tech professionals face the highest risk of redundancy, with companies favoring younger, unmarried employees who are more willing to work long hours. The demanding culture has led to mental health issues and high levels of anxiety among employees, with concerns about unclear career prospects and work-life balance. Despite the challenges, tech remains an attractive sector in China due to high pay and opportunities for social mobility based on performance. Efforts to push back against long hours, such as the 996.icu campaign in 2019, have been made by programmers but the pressure to overwork persists.