Oct. 7: This article and headline has been updated to accurately depict Jack Ma's stance on '996' work culture and to correct Jack Forsdike's work timeline.
A 28-year-old British expat from Manchester, Jack Forsdike, recently shared his experience of enduring China's notorious "996" work culture during his two-year stint at a tech company in Guangzhou. The term "996" refers to working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week—an intense schedule widely endorsed by Chinese business magnates like Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba. Forsdike's journey under this relentless work regime ended abruptly when he was laid off, leaving him with mixed feelings of disappointment and relief.
