Author: Monika Arnoštová | Pages: 07–28
Abstract
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.
References
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).
Bi Ruilin, ‘Zhongguo de ‘guolaosi’ xianzhuang’ [Chinese Death from Overwork Phenomenon], Renli ziyuan, 2006, Vol. 10, No. 3.
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.
Elisabeth Croll, China's new consumers : social development and domestic demand. London and New York: Routledge, 2006.
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).
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.
G. Russell and M. Ross, Work-Life in China, Boston College Center for Work & Family Global Workforce Roundtable USA, 2008.
Gao Jie, ‘Qiye chaoshi jiaban wenti de shensi’ [Reflection on the Problematics of Overtime in Companies], Qiye guancha, 2011, Vol.
Gao Lu, ‘Shei lai zhiyue kepa de ‘jiaban wenhua’’ [Who Will Restrain the Terrible “Overtime Culture”?], Zhongguo shehui qikan, 2006, Vol. 17, No. 1.
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.
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.
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.
Huang Shuomin, ‘Women weihe jiaban’ [Why We Work Overtime], Jiuye yu baozhang, 2016, Vol. 9.
J. Houdmont, Jieming Zhou and J. Hassard, ‘Overtime and psychological well-being among Chinese office workers’, Occupational medicine, 2011, Vol. 61, No.4.
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.
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.
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.
Li Dongjie，‘Jiaban wenhua cheng zhichang qianguize’ [Overtime Culture is Becoming an Unwritten Rule at Workplace], Renmin luntan 2006, Vol. 13.
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.
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.
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.
Liu Dongxia, ‘Jianyi zhongguo qiye quangong jiaban wenti’ [Discussion on Overtime Work of Chinese Companies’ Workers], Jueceyuxinxi, 2016, Vol. 9.
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.
Lou Na, ‘Jiaban xianxiang ji jiaban guiding yanjiu’ [Study on Overtime Phenomenon and Overtime Regulations], Zhongguo renli ziyuan kaifa, 2009, Vol. 4.
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.
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.
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).
Ou Shi, ‘Fansi jiaban wenhua’ [Reflecting on the Overtime Culture], Qiye wenhua, 2007, Vol. 5.
Qi Shi, ‘Lingdao jibie yue gao, jiaban shijian jiu yue chang?’ [The Higher the Position, the Longer the Overtime?], Lingdao wencui, 2016, Vol. 15.
R. J. Burke, ‘Working to Live or Living to Work: Should Individuals and Organizations Care?’, Journal of Business Ethics, 2009, Vol. 84, No. 2.
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.
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.
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.
Shi Ji, ‘‘996’ gongzuozhi ni shoudeliao ma?’ [Can You Stand the “996” Work System?], Jianghuai fazhi, 2016, Vol. 20.
Shi Ji, ‘‘996’ gongzuozhi ni shoudeliao ma?’ [Can You Stand the “996” Work System?], Jianghuai fazhi, 2016, Vol. 20.
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.
Trading Economics, ‘China Underemployment Rate’, Trading Economics, 2017: https://tradingeconomics.com/china/unemployment-rate (accessed 17.09.2017).
V. Mishra and R. Smyth, ‘Work Hours in Chinese Enterprises: Evidence from Matched Employer-employee Data’, Industrial Relations Journal, 2012, Vol. 44, No. 1.
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.
Wang Rengui, ‘Quanmian kandai laodongli chengben shangsheng’ [Comprehensive View on Raising Labour Costs], Liaowang, 2016, Vol. 50.
Wei Huawei, ‘Ruhe rang ‘jiabanwehua’ shangsheng wei qiye jingshen’ [How to Upgrade “Overtime Culture” to the Corporate Spirit], Jingyingzhe：Shangye Guanliban, 2006, Vol. 14.
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.
Xia Yi, ‘‘Jiaban’ yu ‘jiankang’ nei ge shi genben’ [“Overtime” and “Health” - Which One is Essential], Jiuye yu baozhang, 2016, Vol. 11.
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.
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.
Yi Ming, ‘Jiabanzu de ku yu le’ [The Joys and Sorrows of Overtimers], Mishu zhi you, 2012, Vol. 9.
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.
Yu Weiyu, ‘Wenhua shijiao xiakan jiaban’ [Overtime as Seen from the Cultural Prespective], Shichang luntan, 2011, Vol. 5.
Zhang Fengyi，‘Ezhi “jiabanwenhua” waiyi xia de liyi chongdong’ [Containing the ‘Overtime Culture’ under the Cover of Seeking Profit], Dangdai guangxi, 2014, Vol. 9.
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).