In a striking reflection of modern workplace pressures, a former white-collar worker in Nanchong, Sichuan province, China, recently became a symbol of liberation from the relentless demands of professional life. The woman, identified only as Tang, found herself enmeshed in over 600 work-related chat groups on WeChat – China’s most popular social media platform – due to her role in a company that designs shopping centers. Each client required individualized attention, leading to an overwhelming number of digital conversations Tang was expected to manage.
Tang’s job entailed checking and approving designs for various stores, making her a central point of contact in a web of communication that spanned hundreds of clients. This responsibility meant she was effectively on call “24 hours a day,” a situation she described as extremely stressful. The intensity of her job reached a point where social outings were overshadowed by the need to constantly respond to work messages, with her laptop always in tow.
The turning point came earlier this month when Tang decided to quit her job. In a decisive move to reclaim her personal space and mental peace, she embarked on the daunting task of leaving all her work-related chat groups – a process that took her three and a half hours. Reflecting on her experience, Tang expressed a profound sense of relief, stating, “Having left all those groups, I feel quite relaxed. So many work chat groups explicitly demonstrate the hardship in the workplace.”
Tang’s story quickly went viral, resonating with millions across China. On Douyin alone, her experience garnered over 9 million views, sparking substantial discussion and empathy from netizens. Comments ranged from expressions of sympathy over the suffocating nature of her job to broader reflections on the pitfalls of being constantly connected to work through digital means. Many users shared their own experiences and thoughts on the need for a healthier work-life balance.
The intense discussion around Tang’s experience underscores a growing concern about workplace pressures in China, where competitive job markets and high youth unemployment rates add to the stress. The story of Tang’s digital emancipation from her work obligations not only highlights personal struggles but also ignites a wider conversation about the need for systemic changes in work culture. Her action of stepping away from hundreds of chat groups symbolizes a significant step towards personal well-being, resonating deeply with a workforce increasingly conscious of the importance of mental health and work-life balance.
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