Chinese Overtime Culture Among White-Collar Workers in the First-Tier Cities

• Authors: Arnoštová Monika
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The Chinese economic reform did not launch only astonishing economic development but also gave birth to a phenomenon of overtime work. For many white-collar workers in the Chinese megacities long working hours became an inseparable part of their working life, an unwritten rule, that mostly is in contradiction with their written work contracts. Since 2006, the spread of overtime work started to be referred to as “overtime culture” (加班文化 jiābān wénhuà) and formed part of the corporate cultures of Chinese companies. The aim of this paper is to provide a complex analysis of the overtime culture as well as an answer to the research question of why the overtime culture is so widely accepted. Reasons and motivations of white-collar workers to accept the extensively long working hours include specific aspects of the Chinese culture, career development, conditions on the job market, low work effectivity, survival pressure in the Chinese megacities and the new function of the workplace as a social interaction site for young professionals.

Keywords

EN

China economic reform; economic development; overtime culture

• Publisher: Instytut Kultur Śródziemnomorskich i Orientalnych PAN
• Journal: Acta Asiatica Varsoviensia
• Year: 2017
• Volume: Tom 2
• Pages: 07-28

Dates

published

2017-12-01

Contributors

author

Arnoštová Monika

• Renmin University of China.

References

• Lai Desheng, Meng Dahu and Wang Qi, ‘Woguo laodongzhe gongzuo shijian tezheng yu zhengce xuanze’ [Specifics of Labourers’ Working Time and Policy Choice in China], Zhongguo laodong 2015, Vol. 2, p. 36.
• In 2002, the Japanese word karōshi made it into the Oxford English Dictionary, adding to the few Japanese words used in English compared to the extremely long list of katakana written English words in Japanese. Karōshi (過労死), being defined as “death brought by overwork” or “job-related exhaustion”, made it also into Chinese as a direct translation from Japanese, namely guòláosǐ (过劳死).
• Li Dongjie，‘Jiaban wenhua cheng zhichang qianguize’ [Overtime Culture is Becoming an Unwritten Rule at Workplace], Renmin luntan 2006, Vol. 13, p. 32-33.
• Liang Ping and Li Yan, ‘Jiexi xianzai qiye jiaban wenhua de chengyin he duice’ [Analysis on the Causes and Countermeasures of Overtime Culture in Modern Chinese Enterprises], Jingji luntan, 2007, Vol. 7, p. 73-76.
• Gao Lu, ‘Shei lai zhiyue kepa de ‘jiaban wenhua’’ [Who Will Restrain the Terrible “Overtime Culture”?], Zhongguo shehui qikan, 2006, Vol. 17, No. 1, p. 24-25.
• Ou Shi, ‘Fansi jiaban wenhua’ [Reflecting on the Overtime Culture], Qiye wenhua, 2007, Vol. 5, p. 9-10.
• Wei Huawei, ‘Ruhe rang ‘jiabanwehua’ shangsheng wei qiye jingshen’ [How to Upgrade “Overtime Culture” to the Corporate Spirit], Jingyingzhe：Shangye Guanliban, 2006, Vol. 14, p. 92-93.
• Lou Na, ‘Jiaban xianxiang ji jiaban guiding yanjiu’ [Study on Overtime Phenomenon and Overtime Regulations], Zhongguo renli ziyuan kaifa, 2009, Vol. 4, p. 72-74.
• Bi Ruilin, ‘Zhongguo de ‘guolaosi’ xianzhuang’ [Chinese Death from Overwork Phenomenon], Renli ziyuan, 2006, Vol. 10, No. 3, p. 42.
• Ren Fangfang, ‘Zhongguo de ‘guolaosi’ xianzhuang ji yuanyin fenxi’ [Current Situation and Analysis of Reasons Leading to ‘Karoshi’ in China], Dongfang qiye wenhua, 2011, Vol. 10, p. 146.
• J. Li, Z. Yang, A. Loerbroks and P. Angerer, ‘Compensation for disease-caused sudden death at work in China 2006–2012’, Occupational and environmental medicine, 2014, Vol. 71, No. 9, p. 661.
• Wang Duyu, ‘Lunlun ‘guolaosi’ xianxiang zhong de ziyuan jiaban nanti’ [Problematics of Voluntary Overtime Work and the Phenomenon of ‘karoshi’], Fazhi yu shehui, 2017, Vol. 3, p. 297-298.
• Ren Fangfang, ‘Zhongguo de ‘guolaosi’ xianzhuang ji yuanyin fenxi’ [Current Situation and Analysis of Reasons Leading to ‘Karoshi’ in China], Dongfang qiye wenhua, 2011, Vol. 10, p. 146.
• Yu Weiyu, ‘Wenhua shijiao xiakan jiaban’ [Overtime as Seen from the Cultural Prespective], Shichang luntan, 2011, Vol. 5, p. 38-39.
• Gao Jie, ‘Qiye chaoshi jiaban wenti de shensi’ [Reflection on the Problematics of Overtime in Companies], Qiye guancha, 2011, Vol. 1, p. 96-97.
• Yi Ming, ‘Jiabanzu de ku yu le’ [The Joys and Sorrows of Overtimers], Mishu zhi you, 2012, Vol. 9, p. 43-45.
• Qi Shi, ‘Lingdao jibie yue gao, jiaban shijian jiu yue chang?’ [The Higher the Position, the Longer the Overtime?], Lingdao wencui, 2016, Vol. 15, p. 75-77.
• Xia Yi, ‘‘Jiaban’ yu ‘jiankang’ nei ge shi genben’ [“Overtime” and “Health” - Which One is Essential], Jiuye yu baozhang, 2016, Vol. 11, p. 37-39.
• Yi Shan, ‘Woguo yu guowai jiaban buchang zhidu mianmian guan’ [Face to Face with the Compensation System for Overtime in China and Abroad], Zhongguo gonghui caihui, 2016, Vol. 3, p. 39-40.
• Huang Shuomin, ‘Women weihe jiaban’ [Why We Work Overtime], Jiuye yu baozhang, 2016, Vol. 9, p. 8-10.
• Lin Pingshan, ‘Jiaban: yuan huo bu yuan, ta dou zai na li’ [Overtime: It Is Still There Whether You Want or Not], Jiuye yu baozhang, 2016, Vol. 9, p. 11-14.
• Liu Dongxia, ‘Jianyi zhongguo qiye quangong jiaban wenti’ [Discussion on Overtime Work of Chinese Companies’ Workers], Jueceyuxinxi, 2016, Vol. 9, p. 171.
• Shi Ji, ‘‘996’ gongzuozhi ni shoudeliao ma?’ [Can You Stand the “996” Work System?], Jianghuai fazhi, 2016, Vol. 20, p. 42-43.
• Hilary Murdoch and Daniella Gould, ‘Corporate social responsibility in China: Mapping the environment’, A study commission by the Global Alliance for Communities and Workers, 2004.
• Xiangquan Zeng, Lu Liang and Umar Idris Sa'ad, ‘Working time in transition: the dual task of standardization and flexibilization in China’, International Labor Office, 2005, p. 7-27.
• V. Mishra and R. Smyth, ‘Work Hours in Chinese Enterprises: Evidence from Matched Employer-employee Data’, Industrial Relations Journal, 2012, Vol. 44, No. 1, p. 57-77.
• R. J. Burke, ‘Working to Live or Living to Work: Should Individuals and Organizations Care?’, Journal of Business Ethics, 2009, Vol. 84, No. 2, p. 167-172.
• E. Friedman and C. K. Lee, ‘Remaking the world of Chinese labour: A 30‐year retrospective’, British Journal of Industrial Relations, 2010, Vol. 48, No. 3, p. 507-533.
• H. Tang and J. I. N. Zhengwei, ‘Research of Overwork Problem on Simple Laborers From the Visual of Compensation Management’, Canadian Social Science, 2016, Vol. 12, No. 8, p. 91-95.
• S. Kim and S. Chung, ‘Explaining organizational responsiveness to emerging regulatory pressure: the case of illegal overtime in China’, International Journal of Human Resource Management, 2016, Vol. 27, No. 18, p. 2097-2118.
• H. Stier and N. Lewin-Epstein, ‘Time to work: A comparative analysis of preferences for working hours’, Work and Occupations, 2003, Vol. 30, No. 3, p. 302-326.
• Jon C. Messenger, Sangheon Lee and Deirdre McCann, Working time around the world: Trends in working hours, laws, and policies in a global comparative perspective, Routledge, 2007.
• M. C. Tsai, M. Nitta, S. W. Kim et al., ‘Working overtime in East Asia: convergence or divergence?’, Journal of Contemporary Asia, 2016, Vol. 4, p. 1-23.
• X. Li, ‘A Comparative Research on the Involvement of Collective Bargaining in Setting Working Time across Four EU Countries and Its Implication on China’, US-China L. Rev., 2016, Vol. 13, p. 796-808.
• T. Yamashita, A. R. Bardo, D. Liu, ‘Are East Asians happy to work more or less? Associations between working hours, relative income and happiness in China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan’, Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 2016, Vol. 19, No. 3, p. 264-274.
• Huang Shuomin, ‘Women weihe jiaban’ [Why We Work Overtime], Jiuye yu baozhang, 2016, Vol. 9, p. 8-10.
• Lin Pingshan, ‘Jiaban: yuan huo bu yuan, ta dou zai na li’ [Overtime: It Is Still There Whether You Want or Not], Jiuye yu baozhang, 2016, Vol. 9, p. 11-14.
• Liu Dongxia, ‘Jianyi zhongguo qiye quangong jiaban wenti’ [Discussion on Overtime Work of Chinese Companies’ Workers], Jueceyuxinxi, 2016, Vol. 9, p. 171.
• Shi Ji, ‘‘996’ gongzuozhi ni shoudeliao ma?’ [Can You Stand the “996” Work System?], Jianghuai fazhi, 2016, Vol. 20, p. 42-43.
• J. Houdmont, Jieming Zhou and J. Hassard, ‘Overtime and psychological well-being among Chinese office workers’, Occupational medicine, 2011, Vol. 61, No.4, p. 270-273.
• Y. Xiao and F. L. Cooke, ‘Work–life balance in China? Social policy, employer strategy and individual coping mechanisms’, Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 2012, Vol. 50, No. 1, p. 6-22.
• G. Russell and M. Ross, Work-Life in China, Boston College Center for Work & Family Global Workforce Roundtable USA, 2008, p. 1-52.
• Luo Lu and Chun-Yi Chou, ‘Long working hours and presenteeism in Asia’ in The Routledge Companion to Wellbeing at Work, C. L. Cooper and M. P. Leiter (eds.), Taylor & Francis, 2017, p. 135-142.
• Ren Fangfang, Current Situation and Analysis…, p. 146.
• Li Dongjie, Overtime Culture is Becoming…, p. 32.
• Xia Yi, “Overtime” and “Health” …, p. 37.
• Lou Na, Study on Overtime…, p. 72.
• Wang Rengui, ‘Quanmian kandai laodongli chengben shangsheng’ [Comprehensive View on Raising Labour Costs], Liaowang, 2016, Vol. 50, p. 50.
• Gao Jie, Reflection on the Problematics…, p. 96.
• Yu Weiyu, Overtime as Seen from…, p. 38.
• Lou Na, Study on Overtime…, p. 72.
• Zhang Fengyi，‘Ezhi “jiabanwenhua” waiyi xia de liyi chongdong’ [Containing the ‘Overtime Culture’ under the Cover of Seeking Profit], Dangdai guangxi, 2014, Vol. 9, p. 7.
• Gao Lu, Who Will Restrain…, p. 25.
• Ou Shi, Reflecting on the Overtime…, p. 9.
• Qi Shi, The Higher the Position…, p. 76.
• Liu Dongxia, Discussion on Overtime…, p. 171.
• Huang Shuomin, Why We Work Overtime…, p. 10.
• Liu Dongxia, Discussion on Overtime…, p. 171.
• Gao Jie, Reflection on the Problematics…, p. 96.
• Liu Dongxia, Discussion on Overtime…, p. 171.
• Zhaopin, ‘Baling 8 xiaoshi nei shengcun yali da, sancheng mei zhou jiaban chao 5 xiaoshi - 'zhilian zhaopin 2015 nian bailing 8 xiaoshi shengcun zhiliang diaoyan baogao’ [8 Hours of White-collar Workers' Living Pressure, 30% of Them Work Overtime Every Week For Over 5 Hours - Zhaopin’s 2015 Survey Report on the Quality of 8 Hours of White-collar Workers' Life], Zhaopin, 2015: http://article.zhaopin.com/pub/view/217834-26071.html (accessed 10.09.2017).
• Wei Huawei, How to Upgrade…, p. 93.
• Ou Shi, Reflecting on the Overtime…, p. 9.
• Luo Lu and Chun-Yi Chou, Long working hours…, p. 142.
• Gao Lu, Who Will Restrain…, p. 25.
• Liang Ping and Li Yan, Analysis on the Causes…, p. 74.
• Gao Jie, Reflection on the Problematics…, p. 96.
• Zhang Fengyi, Containing the ‘Overtime Culture’ …, p. 7.
• Luo Lu and Chun-Yi Chou, Long working hours…, p. 142.
• Wang Duyu, Problematics of Voluntary Overtime…, p. 297.
• Huang Shuomin, Why We Work Overtime…, p. 9.
• Yu Weiyu, Overtime as Seen from…, p. 38.
• Wang Duyu, Problematics of Voluntary Overtime…, p. 297.
• Russell and Ross, Work-Life in China…, p. 4.
• Huang Shuomin, Why We Work Overtime…, p. 9.
• Wang Duyu, Problematics of Voluntary Overtime…, p. 297.
• Elisabeth Croll, China's new consumers : social development and domestic demand. London and New York: Routledge, 2006, p. 67.
• Yi Ming, The Joys and Sorrows…, p. 43.
• Trading Economics, ‘China Underemployment Rate’, Trading Economics, 2017: https://tradingeconomics.com/china/unemployment-rate (accessed 17.09.2017).
• National Bureau of Statistics of the People’s Republic of China ‘Guojia tongjiju xinwen fayanren jiu 2017 nian 8 yuefen guomin jingji yunxing qingkuang da jizhe wen’ [A Spokesman of the National Bureau of Statistics Speaking To Reporters in 2017 August about the Operations of the National Economy], National Bureau of Statistics of the People’s Republic of China, 14.09.2017: http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/sjjd/201709/t20170914_1534101.html (accessed 18.09.2017).
• Belsie Laurent, ‘Official Statistics Understate Chinese Unemployment Rate’, National Bureau of Economic Research, 2015: http://www.nber.org/digest/oct15/w21460.html (accessed 17.09.2017).
• Gao Jie, Reflection on the Problematics…, p. 96.
• Lai, Meng and Wang, Specifics of Labourers…, p. 37.
• Ernst & Young, ‘China’s productivity imperative’, Ernst & Young, 2012: http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/China_productivity_imperative_en/$FILE/China-Productivity-Imperative_en.pdf (accessed 18.09.2017).
• Mishra and Smyth, Work Hours in Chinese…, p. 58.
• Shi Ji, Can You Stand the…, p. 42.
• Zhaopin, 8 Hours of White-collar…, (accessed 10.09.2017).
• F. K. Schlosser, ‘So, how do people really use their handheld devices? An interactive study of wireless technology use’, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2002, Vol. 23, No. 4, p. 401.
• Liu Shengming, Zhang Ye, Chen Lifan, Guo Li and Yu Donglu, ‘Enterprise WeChat Groups: Their Effect on Work-Life Conflict and Life-Work Enhancement’, Frontiers of Business Research in China, 2015, Vol. 9, No. 4, p. 517.
• Ibid, p. 527.
• Huang Shuomin, Why We Work Overtime…, p. 10.
• Gao Jie, Reflection on the Problematics…, p. 96.
• Yi Shan, Face to Face with…, p. 39.
• Zeng, Lu and Sa'ad, Working time in transition…, p. 16.
• Lou Na, Study on Overtime…, p. 72.
• Huang Shuomin, Why We Work Overtime…, p. 10.
• Ibidem.
• Zhaopin, 8 Hours of White-collar…, (accessed 10.09.2017).
• Lin Pingshan, Overtime: It Is Still…, p. 14.