How an ‘always-on’ work culture can create a vicious cycle that damages workers and employers

When relationships are damaged by work pressures, employee performance suffers. Cast Of Thousands/Shutterstock

The glamorisation of high-pressure work environments, like the infamous “996” culture (where staff work from 9am until 9pm six days a week), often portrays relentless dedication and long hours as key to career success.

A PR boss at Chinese tech firm Baidu publicly apologised in May after glorifying a work-till-you-drop culture. Qu Jing advised staff not to expect weekends off and denied any responsibility for employee welfare, saying: “I’m not your mother.”