British Man Raises Awareness of China’s Grueling 996 Work Culture

In an unexpected turn of events, Jack Forsdike, a British man hailing from Yorkshire, has stirred the online waters in China with a viral revelation about his challenging experience with the notorious 996 work culture. Forsdike, who embarked on his professional journey in China in 2022 with NetEase, found himself navigating the intense currents of this demanding work culture when his responsibilities shifted from translation to game design earlier this year.

Forsdike’s journey took a transformative turn in January 2024 when he transitioned into the role of a system designer within the video gaming unit at NetEase in Guangzhou. By April, he found himself entrenched in the infamous 996 regime, which expected employees to endure work hours stretching from 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week. His candid social media posts on the app Xiaohongshu, akin to Instagram, shed light on his plight, capturing the attention of thousands. Forsdike shared how he routinely began his workdays at 10 am and often didn’t leave until after 10 pm, pushing through intense periods of up to 80-hour weeks to meet the company’s stringent deadlines.

Forsdike’s story resonated deeply, possibly due to the universal challenges posed by such demanding schedules. Despite the arduous conditions, Forsdike was motivated to coalesce with his team, endeavoring not to halt the rolling ball nor to delay projects. In a candid post featuring a worn-out selfie, Forsdike’s rhetorical musings—”why he accepted the job”—struck a chord with many, garnering over 265,000 views.

His journey in China began with academic pursuits; as a student of Chinese at the University of Manchester, Forsdike spent a year in Beijing as an exchange student, eager to immerse himself in the local culture. This academic background laid the foundation for his professional aspirations in China, ultimately leading him to NetEase.

In June, Forsdike further engaged his growing audience by reposting the same image, accompanied by an updated caption expressing his fatigue, which resonated with even more viewers, amassing over 383,000 views. Sadly, June also marked a significant shift due to company-wide staff cuts, leading to Forsdike’s job loss. These experiences underscored the ongoing challenges within the tech sector, where discussions around 996 work culture are amplified even amidst broader economic shifts.

Chinese tech giants like Tencent and ByteDance have publicly addressed overtime concerns, advocating for healthier work-life balances. However, the fierce competitiveness within the sector maintains the pressure on employees, despite explicit initiatives to mitigate excessive work hours.

Forsdike’s current chapter sees him relocated to Harbin, the hometown of his wife, where he is leveraging his online presence while taking a break from the relentless pace of 996 job environments. His remarks about the long-term impact of 996—highlighting burnout and talent attrition—reflect broader sentiments within the global tech community.

This unexpected internet fame not only spotlights Forsdike’s personal journey but also reignites conversations around work culture, influencing perceptions and potentially driving change in practices across the sector.