Introduction

The decade spanning 2015 to 2025 marked a profound paradigm shift in Chinese work culture. This period was initially defined by the ubiquity of an intense labour regime, epitomised by the "996" system (9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week). However, as socio-economic development accelerated, a combination of public discourse, grassroots initiatives, and state-level directives forced a recalibration of corporate policy among the nation's technology giants.

This analysis demonstrates that the period in question witnessed a fundamental redefinition of the social contract between the state, the private sector, and a new generation of Chinese workers. The concept of a career predicated on unlimited sacrifice is being dismantled in favour of a model aligned with a shifting economy and rising social awareness regarding work-life balance. This process, driven by both the vox populi and regulatory intervention, has permanently altered the labour landscape in China.

The timeline below outlines the pivotal events that have shaped this transformation.

I. The Era of Hyper-Growth and Institutionalised Overwork (2015–2019)

In the years following 2015, the "996" schedule was not merely a practice but an ideology. It was aggressively promoted by industry titans such as Jack Ma (Alibaba) and Richard Liu (JD.com) as the necessary price for China’s rapid technological ascent. The prevailing narrative framed extreme diligence as a patriotic duty and the only pathway to individual success in a hyper-competitive market.

However, March 2019 marked the first fracture in this consensus. The "996.ICU" movement, originating on the code-hosting platform GitHub, circumvented traditional censorship mechanisms to deliver a stark message: the pursuit of productivity was exacting a lethal toll on the workforce. While initially dismissed by corporate leadership, this digital uprising sowed the seeds of a broader societal reckoning.

II. The Turning Point: Tragedy and Legal Intervention (2020–2021)

The theoretical debate over work-life balance transformed into a crisis of legitimacy for Big Tech following a series of tragedies in 2020 and 2021. The deaths of young employees at Pinduoduo—one collapsing after a shift ending at 1:30 am, another dying by suicide—stripped the veneer of glory from the "hustle culture".

The state’s response was decisive. In August 2021, the Supreme People's Court (SPC) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security issued a joint memo detailing ten typical cases of overtime disputes. The directive was unambiguous: the "996" working pattern was a violation of the Labour Law. This legal interpretation signalled the end of the laissez-faire era regarding employee welfare, aligning with Beijing’s broader Common Prosperity agenda which seeks to reduce inequality and improve quality of life.

III. The Strategic Retreat of Big Tech (2021–2023)

Faced with mounting regulatory pressure and public opprobrium, China's technology giants initiated a strategic retreat from mandatory overtime.

• ByteDance and Kuaishou formally abolished the "Big/Small Week" policy (a practice of working a six-day week every alternate week).

• Tencent introduced mandatory "Health Days" and capped working hours, encouraging employees to leave the office by 6:00 pm on Wednesdays.

This period represented a difficult transition. While official policies changed, the underlying culture of implicit pressure remained entrenched in many middle-management layers. Nevertheless, the signal from the top was clear: the era of growth at any human cost was over.

IV. The New Efficiency Paradigm (2024)

By 2024, the focus shifted from simply reducing hours to enhancing efficiency (Xiàolǜ, 效率). Companies began to realise that exhausted employees were arguably less productive. A new set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) emerged, valuing output per hour rather than total hours logged. This shift was also driven by economic necessity; as the "demographic dividend" waned, retaining skilled talent became paramount. The "involution" (Nèijuǎn, 内卷) of the workforce was no longer sustainable.

V. The 2025 Sustainability Mandate: Case Studies

The current year, 2025, has witnessed the most radical implementation of these new norms, moving beyond the tech sector into traditional manufacturing giants.

• Midea Group (Měidí): In a striking move, the appliance giant enforced a "mandatory exit" policy in February. Office lights are automatically extinguished, and doors locked at 18:20, physically preventing overtime. This "hard stop" mechanism represents a shift from "discouraging" overtime to actively preventing it.

• Haier: In March, Haier, historically known for its rigorous "RenDanHeYi" management model, formally instituted a mandatory two-day weekend. For a conglomerate with deep roots in the manufacturing ethos, this signals that the "sustainable work" model is becoming a universal standard across the Chinese economy.

VI. Conclusion: In Search of a New Equilibrium

The 2015–2025 decade represented a period of deep structural transformation for the Chinese labour market. The "996" system, once lauded as a symbol of national progress and competitiveness, has been publicly delegitimised and legally dismantled. A new generation of workers has emerged, possessing distinct expectations regarding the equilibrium between professional engagement and private life. Simultaneously, Chinese corporations—particularly those with global ambitions (the Go-Global Strategy)—have recognised that sustainable operational models must adhere to both domestic legal frameworks and international ESG standards.

Despite these positive indicators, significant challenges persist. The state faces the complex task of balancing the promotion of a diligent work ethos—essential for national rejuvenation—with the protection of labour rights. While firms are reducing formal overtime, the implicit pressure for performance remains acute. Furthermore, the management of structural headwinds, such as demographic pressure and the misalignment of graduate skills with market needs, remains a critical strategic imperative.

Entering the second half of the decade, China stands at a decisive inflection point. The process of shaping a new, more sustainable model is underway.