“996” = 9am–9pm, 6 days/week. Some call it grit. Many call it grind.
For leaders and teams, the question isn’t just can you do it — it’s what do you lose when you try.
React:
👍 if you think 996 is legit
💡 if you think it is a failure
My take
▪️ Long hours ≠ long-term results. Creativity, quality, and safety degrade when rest is a rounding error.
▪️ Hero culture hides root causes (poor prioritization, weak product focus, understaffing).
▪️ Sustainable pace wins: clear goals, ruthless prioritization, smaller batches, and real recovery time.
▪️ Alternatives exist: think 8-8-8 (work/for self/sleep) — or sometimes 0-0-0 (true rest) to reset.
Leaders, ask:
▪️ Are hours a proxy for impact?
▪️ What’s our exit strategy from crunch?
▪️ Are we measuring outcomes or attendance?
Your turn — quick pulse check:
👉 React with 👍 if you think 996 is legit
👉 React with 💡 if you think it is a failure
…and drop a comment on why.
#WorkCulture #996 #Burnout #Productivity #Leadership #EngineeringManagement #Agile #Tech #MentalHealth #SustainablePace #France #EU
Nicolas said:
Yeah, notice that this pace is, per design, incompatible with french work code : a french salaryman cannot work more than 10 hours a day, and no more than 48 hours a week (see https://travail-emploi.gouv.fr/la-duree-legale-du-travail)