The 996 Grind: When Expat Dreams Collide with China’s Work Culture

From Interpreter to Game Developer

Jack Forsdike, a 28-year-old Brit in Guangzhou, moved from interpreting to developing video games for a Chinese company. At first, being told he’d work the infamous 996 hours felt like validation. He believed it meant he was trusted and on a path to success.

His contract didn’t mention marathon work days. But implicit expectations did. Within months, unpaid overtime became the norm. By 9 p.m., he often found himself in meetings scheduled by managers. Weekends blurred into weekdays. There was no escape.

His health suffered, he stopped seeing his wife, he quit tennis, and he lost weight. The extra hours didn’t lead to rewards or time off. Instead, the grind destroyed his free time and morale. He compares it to back-to-back “crunch time”—but built-in, unavoidable, and draining.

Then came the layoff. Forsdike was stunned. His project was dropped without warning. No promotion, no payoff. But he felt relieved. He realized how much of life he had sacrificed for a job that valued hours, not people.

What Is 996?

The “996” schedule is an informal but widespread model in many Chinese tech companies. Though illegal under Chinese labor law, it persists subtly and systemically.

Critics call it “modern slavery”—forcing employees into burnout for the sake of productivity. Across major cities, many workers report health issues: burnout, stress, sleep disorders, physical pain. A 2019 movement called 996.ICU exploded on GitHub, gaining massive support. The name warns: follow this schedule, and you may end up in intensive care.

Borrowing from Western ideas of “grind culture” taken to extremes, 996 sacrifices rest, relationships, and well-being on the altar of dev output.

Young Workers Resist

Over the past few years, a counter-movement has grown: tang ping (“lying flat”) and bai lan (“letting it rot”). These trends reflect a growing refusal among young Chinese to submit to ruthless labor norms. Opting out of endless hustle, they search for balance, not burnout.

Despite being illegal, 996 thrives in a climate where competition is fierce and jobs are precarious. Tech giants still expect long hours. Even ByteDance, the parent of TikTok, phased out its six-day-on, one-day-off schedule. But the culture lingers in smaller studios, agencies, and under-the-radar startups.

Why 996 Keeps Going

China’s work culture has deep roots. A strong work ethic—with echoes of Confucian obedience and industrial ambition—makes 996 more acceptable. Tech leaders celebrate hustle. Some even call resistance to long hours lazy.

Yet for so many, 996 isn’t heroic. It erodes wellbeing. It’s about survival, not choice. People fear losing more than their jobs—status, future opportunities, even dignity.

An Expat Wakes Up

Forsdike’s refresh came after he lost his role. He traded code for cold mornings and regained time with his wife. He dropped the blame; resentment gave way to reflection.

He realized no promotion, no paycheck, ever justified sacrificing health and life. 996 had sold him the idea of respect through endurance—but in reality, it stripped him of everything that mattered outside work.

What This Means for the Future

Stories like his expose a harsh truth: productivity culture should not become exploitation culture. For China and the world, the fight is to value people, not hours.

• Workers need real legal protections, enforced across industries—not just written rules.

• Companies should reward results, not schedules.

• Expat professionals must research culture before relocating; fit matters.

• And the movements—tang ping, anti-996, digital labor solidarity—show a public ready to push back.

Conclusion: Workshop, Not Deathtrap

China’s career magnetism won’t vanish. Tech, innovation, global ambition still attract. But behind the neon skyline, many retreat into routines that drain the soul.

Jack Forsdike’s story reminds us: work should enhance life—not consume it. And sustainable success lies in reclaiming that balance, wherever you focus your energy.