“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

Src. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/05/996-work-culture-is-sad-and-inhumane-whatevers-wrong-with-888-or-even-000

Nicolas said: