KQED's Forum Hustle Culture is Back in Silicon Valley. But Can Workers Sustain a 996 Grind?
Oct 13, 2025
Carolyn Chen, an Associate Professor at UC Berkeley and author of *Work, Pray, Code*, discusses how Silicon Valley’s hustle culture resembles a religion, complete with devotion to work. Journalist Laura Kelly sheds light on the 996 work trend—9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week—and its rise in the tech industry. Economist Ara Karazian analyzes data revealing a spike in weekend work as companies expect employees to embrace the grind. They explore whether this relentless hustle can sustain without burnout and its implications for diversity in the workforce.
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Definition And Origins Of 996
- 996 means working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week and originated in China's tech scene.
- It resurfaced in Silicon Valley amid AI hype and industry insecurity, despite legal pushback in China.
Data Shows Weekend Work Rising In SF
- Ramp's spend data shows weekend takeaway spending rose, indicating more employees working weekends in SF.
- Ara Karazian estimates 40,000–60,000 additional SF workers now work weekends based on corporate card data.
Trend Is Localized To San Francisco
- The rise in weekend work is currently localized to San Francisco and certain high-growth companies.
- Ara Karazian notes the trend hasn't appeared in Miami, New York, or Seattle yet.
