Overview
- Recent listings for AI startups in the Bay Area now ask candidates to commit to more than 70 hours per week, with interview screens probing willingness to adopt 9‑to‑9, six‑day schedules.
- Google leadership has pushed for longer in‑office time, with reporting of a memo from Sergey Brin urging at least 60 hours weekly, echoing earlier public calls for tougher pace across Big Tech.
- Named startups are formalizing expectations or incentives: Rilla advertises a 70‑hour minimum, and Fella & Delilah offers higher pay and equity to employees who voluntarily sign up for a 996 routine.
- Spending data supports a behavioral shift, as Ramp notes a rise in Saturday corporate‑card charges in San Francisco beginning around late morning, suggesting more weekend office activity.
- Researchers and labor experts warn of burnout, widening inequalities for caregivers, and diminishing long‑term productivity; China outlawed 996 in 2021, while U.S. rules hinge on overtime eligibility under the FLSA.