Former Google CEO Says US Tech Workers Must Match China's 996 Schedule To Remain Competitive

U.S. tech workers must sacrifice work-life balance to compete with China's workforce, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has warned. Speaking on the All-In podcast, Schmidt said China's tech sector operates on '996' schedules -- 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week -- despite the practice being outlawed in 2021. He criticized remote work as particularly harmful for young employees who miss learning opportunities from in-person office interactions.

âoeIf you're going to be in tech and you're going to win, you're going to have to make some tradeoffs,' Schmidt said. 'Remember, we're up against the Chinese; the Chinese work-life balance consists of 996, which is 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week,' he said. Silicon Valley AI startups are already adopting similar expectations, demanding 72-hour workweeks according to Wired. Google's Sergey Brin recently told Gemini team employees to work in-office weekdays, calling 60 hours weekly 'the sweet spot of productivity.'

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