Photon Studio, a mobile gaming studio of Tencent’s Interactive Entertainment Group (IEG), has begun a pilot to enforce a 6PM off-time for employees on Wednesdays, as reported by Sina on June 11. According to the overtime management system notice, beginning on June 14, the studio will strictly comply with the requirement that the closing time on Wednesdays is 6PM, while on other weekdays, staff shall not leave the office area later than 9PM. In addition, the studio will also require early applications and clarificaitons for working overtime on weekends and public holidays. Tencent responded that IEG’s gaming studios had started implementing such provisions in 2016, rather than proposing for the first time. IEG also stated that this move aimed to encourage employees to balance work and rest and better focus on physical and mental health.

The internet industry in China is famous on the “996” overtime mechanism, which means working from 9AM to 9PM every day for six days a week, compared to the traditional eight-hour working days with two-day weekends each week. For instance, according to a former product manager in Bytedance, it was usual for them to work overtime until 9PM to 10PM, even until midnight for certain projects. According to the Labor Law, daily working hours should not surpass eight hours, and weekly working hours should be at an average of 44 hours. Therefore, the 996 system is categorized as extra-long overtime, which violates the rights and interests of workers. Tencent’s 6PM duty-off policy is not only meaningful to the internet industry, but also an important step to strengthen corporate governance and promote sustainable development of the company.

Sources:

https://finance.sina.com.cn/esg/cg/2021-06-11/doc-ikqciyzi9108268.shtml

https://new.qq.com/omn/20210611/20210611A05BSM00.html

https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13115593

https://m.thepaper.cn/baijiahao_13106690

https://new.qq.com/omn/20210611/20210611A07ZUG00.html

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1702356668440975045&wfr=spider&for=pc