British man finds fame in China after revealing gruelling 996 work schedule at tech job

A British man has gained unexpected fame on the Chinese internet after he revealed his gruelling work schedule at a Chinese Big Tech firm, drawing fresh attention to the country's so-called 996 work culture. Jack Forsdike, a Yorkshire local, joined NetEase in Guangzhou in 2022, doing translation work which did not involve overtime. He was transferred to game design in January 2024, and the work load increased in April. He then realised "how difficult it might be" to keep up with the demanding ho