The 996 trend is creeping into U.S. work: 9am-9pm, six days a week. The trend started in China, though it ultimately sparked protests over and in 2021, courts ruled that the overtime culture is illegal. And yet, U.S. startups like Rilla are openly recruiting for 70-hour workweeks, while others set up beds at their office for weekend work, all in the name of accelerating growth. The mythos of it all seems to be a main appeal, as many working this schedule cite “grind icons” like Steve Jobs, Kobe Bryant, and Elon Musk—who argues for roughly 80 hours of work a week—do the same. But the grind isn’t universal, especially given the already high burnout risk. Employers think 45% of all adult workers are currently at risk of burnout, but 69% of workers actually say they’re at moderate-to-high risk. (Fast Company)
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