996 working hour system • Hacker News Board

Re: 996 working hour system

#21

Post by smallmancontrov » Wed, Apr 10, 2024, 4:58 PM UTC

rexpop wrote: post #4

barbarr wrote: post #2

Don't give Jeff Bezos new ideas!

Do you think its kyriarch's ideas that drive oppression? The corporate egregore hungers for profit, and will squeeze every ounce of value from the world that's not nailed down, ie consciously resisted. The man has already heard of "longer working hours," and the only thing stopping their implementation is our self-respect.

Not just self-respect, law. In particular, FDR's New Deal. 40 hours, overtime, unemployment insurance, social security, right to unionize, and more.

Capital interests have been working hard to erode these over the last 80 years with notable success, but the importance of legislative victories cannot be understated. Early 20th century labor relations were egregious all around the world, and they did not improve because capitalists developed a conscience. Many places went straight socialist. We saw how that went. In America, we didn't need socialism because we had Roosevelts. This worked out better for all involved.

We could probably use another Roosevelt.

Re: 996 working hour system

#22

Post by chihwei » Wed, Apr 10, 2024, 5:00 PM UTC

This is the reason why Chinese products are beating everyone else, and it's also a reason why we need to impose tariff on Chinese products made by workers in inhumane working conditions, e.g. 996.

Re: 996 working hour system

#23

Post by 0xbadcafebee » Wed, Apr 10, 2024, 5:00 PM UTC

China actually adopted the 8-hour workday in 1930 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-hour_day#China). The 996 policy is a regression which needs to be fought by organized labor, the same way organized labor had to fight (and sometimes die) to get the 8-hour workday.

Re: 996 working hour system

#24

Post by hnthrowaway0328 » Wed, Apr 10, 2024, 5:02 PM UTC

TrackerFF wrote: post #18

I've always wondered, do these work? As in - is the production of the 996 workers more, less, or equal to those working 40 hour weeks? Did it arise out of some data-driven research, or is it mostly just the result of cargo-culting, where one successful company had such hours/schedule, and the other companies just followed suit?

My understanding is that it does work, for the period that they work in the company, because few work actually needs intensive brain activity.

But it's bad for the employee, and bad for the companies down in the line because the employees would already been drained. That's why there is an implicit or explicit 35-yrs old deadline in the industry.

Re: 996 working hour system

#25

Post by chihwei » Wed, Apr 10, 2024, 5:02 PM UTC

ActionHank wrote: post #14

lvl102 wrote: post #3

And you wonder why China is experiencing brain drain. Rest of world is moving toward 4-day work week and these guys think their citizens are dumb enough to slave away their lives.

The rest of the world will look to use 4 day work week as a way to put downward pressure on salaries. China hasn't really needed to put too much downward pressure on salaries.

Until you realize more and more of your stuff are not just Chinese made, but Chinese branded, by those 996 manufacturers.

Re: 996 working hour system

#26

Post by blackeyeblitzar » Wed, Apr 10, 2024, 5:03 PM UTC

This destructive working culture is also what gave rise to “lying flat”:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_ping

Re: 996 working hour system

#27

Post by dookahku » Wed, Apr 10, 2024, 5:03 PM UTC

chihwei wrote: post #22

This is the reason why Chinese products are beating everyone else, and it's also a reason why we need to impose tariff on Chinese products made by workers in inhumane working conditions, e.g. 996.

how productive can a person bee if they wake up, immediately commute to work, labor for 12 hours(!), and then immediately commute home, sleep?

Re: 996 working hour system

#28

Post by chihwei » Wed, Apr 10, 2024, 5:03 PM UTC

TrackerFF wrote: post #18

I've always wondered, do these work? As in - is the production of the 996 workers more, less, or equal to those working 40 hour weeks? Did it arise out of some data-driven research, or is it mostly just the result of cargo-culting, where one successful company had such hours/schedule, and the other companies just followed suit?

Go to your Costco or Bestbuy and see how many appliances are Chinese branded and you will know why and how it works.

Re: 996 working hour system

#29

Post by smallmancontrov » Wed, Apr 10, 2024, 5:06 PM UTC

dookahku wrote: post #27

chihwei wrote: post #22

This is the reason why Chinese products are beating everyone else, and it's also a reason why we need to impose tariff on Chinese products made by workers in inhumane working conditions, e.g. 996.

how productive can a person bee if they wake up, immediately commute to work, labor for 12 hours(!), and then immediately commute home, sleep?

Maybe a bit more, so the beatings will continue until morale improves. The accounting happens in the birth rate.

Re: 996 working hour system

#30

Post by mostlysimilar » Wed, Apr 10, 2024, 5:06 PM UTC

chihwei wrote: post #22

This is the reason why Chinese products are beating everyone else, and it's also a reason why we need to impose tariff on Chinese products made by workers in inhumane working conditions, e.g. 996.

> Chinese products are beating everyone else

I suspect the greedy business executives in the west insisting upon a race to the bottom on cost etc. have more to do with it.