Job burnout and 996 working hour system: how Chinese Generation Z reacts

Abstract

My thesis analyses the impact of job burnout, focusing on the current Chinese situation. Investigating the cultural and economic factors that have contributed to the development of this condition among Chinese workers, my aim is to analyse the recent rebellion movements arose among young Chinese workers thanks to the social media, proposing a possible future development of the situation. The first chapter describes the birth of the concept of job burnout, its causes, the methods used to measure it, its effects on individuals and organisations and the global and Chinese extent of the phenomenon. The second chapter contains an analysis of the cultural values, the historical and economic roots of Chinese overwork culture, which also relates to some industrial policies and structural changes of Chinese economic structure. This section also analyse some legislative leaks embedded in Chinese society that have contributed to the development of the issue. The third chapter is a description of the "996" working hour system in high tech Chinese companies, and the debate around the topic. The fourth chapter illustrates the most relevant contemporary Chinese rebellion movements against "996" and overwork culture, developed by young workers whose mindset shows a different conception of work-life balance. Using social media, they are starting to express their resentment in a new way, trying to bring about a change.