Frequently asked questions
What is a 996 job?
A 996 schedule means working 9am to 9pm, six days a week — roughly 72 hours. The term comes from the Chinese tech industry. Every listing here is explicit about intensity expectations, so nobody discovers the schedule after signing.
Is a 996 schedule legal?
It depends on where the job is. That is one reason every listing states its location and expectations up front.
United States: federal law does not cap how many hours adults may work, so a 72-hour week is lawful. The Fair Labor Standards Act requires time-and-a-half pay past 40 hours per week for non-exempt employees, while salaried exempt employees — most executive, professional, and computer roles above the federal salary threshold — can work 996 with no overtime pay. Some states add their own rules; California, for example, requires daily overtime and one day of rest in seven.
European Union: the Working Time Directive caps average working time at 48 hours per week including overtime, and guarantees 11 hours of daily rest, a weekly rest day, and breaks. A literal 72-hour week exceeds that cap, so in most member states a 996 contract is not enforceable as written. A few member states allow an individual, written, voluntary opt-out from the 48-hour cap; even then the rest requirements still apply, and refusing to opt out cannot be held against you.
United Kingdom: the 48-hour average cap was kept after Brexit, but the individual written opt-out is common practice, so a 996 schedule is workable with genuine consent.
Employers are responsible for structuring roles lawfully in their jurisdiction, and we remove postings that misrepresent working conditions. None of this is legal advice — check local law before you sign.
Is browsing free for job seekers?
Yes. Browsing is free, no account required. Applying and viewing salary ranges require a free account. Only employers pay, per posting.
How much does posting a job cost?
Employers pay a one-time fee per posting, which runs for 60 days. Optional upgrades — featured, highlighted, pinned, logo — are shown at checkout.
Do listings include a salary range?
Every job posted directly on 996grind must include a salary range. Postings indexed from public sources show one when the original advertisement provides it. Sign in with a free account to see salary ranges and apply links.
Where do the listings come from?
Two sources: employers who post directly, and postings we index from public job-board feeds. Indexed postings pass moderation before going live and always link back to the original advertisement.
A listing looks wrong — how do I report it?
Email gordon@996grind.com. Postings that are unlawful, discriminatory, misleading, or misrepresent working conditions get removed.