Why some Chinese workers are 'lying flat'

Chinese people putting rest first - 21st March 2022

In China, young people are putting their health and happiness first. They're tired of working long hours, and so, many are choosing 'lying flat', or 'tang ping' in Chinese. Lying flat, which means taking a break from working all hours, is a growing movement among young people in China.

It took off in 2021 during Covid-19. Many young Chinese workers felt stressed by the increased workload and the pressure of keeping their jobs. The movement, which began on a popular social media site, was a response to workers explaining that they'd had enough.

The idea of finding a work-life balance, and of being content with less, is appealing to many young Chinese. One media expert, Kerry Allen, said that people felt exhausted with coronavirus. Instead of working hard, people "literally just want to lie down with a book, or sit and watch some TV".

So while the virus might be losing its strength, the tang ping movement's most definitely not. On social media sites, messages describe how many young Chinese workers are fearful of returning to the old work pressures. Some now have the confidence to choose a more balanced lifestyle. This might involve moving away from the city or getting less money.

In China, the '996' work culture, where people work from 9 in the morning until 9 at night, six days a week, is still normal. Last year, the labour ministry declared these working hours to be illegal.

However, working 996 is still viewed as necessary and acceptable in many work environments. Competition demands it. It's hardly surprising that many young workers are rejecting the demands of the current working culture.