Photo:Courtesy of  Wen jinjin

996 has become a heated topic during these days with public concerns about the working system. According to the news on the internet, the heads of Alibaba, Jingdong and other enterprises have expressed their views on 996. For example, following is Ma Yun's view shared during the internal exchange activities in Alibaba on April 11: About 996, now this is a very hot topic in China, many enterprises have this problem. Personally, I think it's a great blessing to be able to do 996. Many companies, many people think 996 has no chance. If you weren't 996 when you were young, when would you be 996? You haven't had 996 in your life. Do you think you're proud? As we know, the so-called 996 refers to working from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for six days a week, which represents the overtime culture prevailing in Chinese Internet enterprises. Regarding the working system, I also have some ideas about it.
  
First of all, 996 has nothing to do with struggle and can't be synonymous with struggle. The entrepreneurs agree with 996 because they want their employees to fully motivate their enthusiasm and to complete work on time to maximize the company's interests. It is undeniable that China needs strugglers in the new era. As well, every employee is supposed to go to work on time and abide by company rules for economic development. However, the struggle must be voluntary , which accompanies the pursuit of their own happy life. Only when the employees have the sense of responsibility and the company protects their interests, 996 will be meaningful. For the compulsory implementation of 996, if there is no system to guarantee the interests of employees and enterprises, and no system to ensure that employees have a bright future, struggle will not exist. When employees lack the guarantee of long-term contracts and they will be laid off at any time, there is definitely nothing that can parallel with the sense of responsibility, even overtime pay. At this point , it is meaningless to associate struggle with 996.

Second, I also want to give some suggestions to the employees who follow this kind of work system. Since 996 is a very intensive work system, the most important thing is to care your physical health. For example, during the holidays, you can take a variety of ways to unwind and relax yourselves, such as proper physical exercise, which can effectively avoid the huge damage to the body and brain caused by highly intense work. The second point is to sign a labor contract with the company in accordance with the law. You should actively fulfill your obligations in line with the contract. When infringed, you should be brave enough to safeguard your rights. In general, health and job security are the two most important matters I think.

For me, I would like to be an employee with the 996 working system, because in the company with the 996 working system, I can get higher wages, better social security and so on. Success has always been obtained with a price to pay. If you want to get better living conditions than others, you need to pay and invest more energy.

In summary, 996 has become a work pattern of employees in some large companies. It will inevitably become a trend in the following economic development. We need to take more effective measures to safeguard the common interests of employees and enterprises, so as to promote domestic economic development and the well-being of people.

Teacher: Liu Yanhui
Liling No. 1 middle school