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Currently, a favorite cultural comfort pick is a period drama portraying New York's high society during a prosperous era. An interesting thread casually mentions steelworkers going on strike for what they call “888”: equal parts dedicated to work, sleep, and leisure.

This demand was far from groundbreaking at that time. The phrase, attributed to visionary thinker Robert Owen, was first used in 1817. Even earlier, a 16th-century law capped laborers in the Americas to eight-hour days.

So what these historical figures or Philip II of Spain make of “996”? This term means being on the job from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days out of a week – adding up to 72 hours of grind. First seen in the Chinese tech industry, 996 was previously called a “blessing” by a prominent entrepreneur. But, employees in China pushed back, organizing through the internet and even winning legal battles with companies.

Now, 996 is resurfacing – and it probably remained in practice. Sources show that employees across industries are required to work 12-hour days. In Silicon Valley, following such hours is seen as essential for success. Employment ads openly require extreme work schedules and suggest that applicants need to be thrilled with the opportunity. Talent scouts are instructed that a willingness to endure such hours is mandatory.

A news source proclaimed that overwork ethos has returned and grindier than ever. A business owner described the philosophy as: “No drinking, no drugs, 996, lift heavy, run far, marry early, track sleep, eat steak and eggs.” Another wrote online about often being during days off and producing top results after dark.

Numerous observers are puzzled with this development. Hadn't we grown disillusioned with hustle culture? Recent successes from four-day week initiatives demonstrate that the vast majority of participating companies decided to stick with the revised hours. Considering other nations, more enlightened labor practices that reconcile family, community, life and work don't always come at a productivity cost and frequently result in improved well-being.

Take the case of the Netherlands, which has a typical workweek is around 32 hours. Even with shorter hours, the nation has been doing better than similar countries and ranks fifth in the most recent global well-being index.

Moreover, reports indicate of growing work-agnosticism, notably in younger generations. Polls organized by leading companies showed that life outside work emerged as the key consideration for career decisions. Unexpectedly, this factor outranked pay as a motivator.

So what are we seeing renewed, harsh return to grueling schedules? A couple of ideas may clarify this trend. One possibility, it might represent the dying breath of a outdated belief – a final flare-up as it winds down. Another view suggests new studies indicating that too much labor leads to mental alterations. Evidence find that people who work too much exhibit alterations in brain regions linked to cognitive control and emotional regulation. Considering certain well-known tech leaders, that idea fits well. Only individuals with altered mental states could believe that this work culture are beneficial or efficient.

Because innovators often love new ideas, maybe their influenced minds could be persuaded that extreme schedules are passe by introducing bold new models. What exactly might catch on? Some dream of shorter workweeks, which is close to an economist's once-predicted 15-hour workweek. Different ideas include a specific ratio of meetings to breaks, or dedicating limited office hours and additional days in leisure. Perhaps under a trendy label and rumors that it enhances life, such concepts might emerge as the latest craze in demanding work environments.