Many workers in China, including Hao Zeyu, an algorithm engineer at an electric vehicle maker, are experiencing a unique situation during the Labor Day holiday. While they are granted five days off, the conditions attached to this time off have left them feeling less than celebratory.
To be able to enjoy the vacation, employees like Hao are required to work an additional day on both weekends preceding and following the break. Furthermore, two of the official vacation days fall on weekends, meaning only one out of the five days is considered a true holiday.
This practice, known as 'tiaoxiu' or adjusted rest, was introduced in 1999 to boost consumer spending after the Asian financial crisis. However, it has recently sparked online outrage among workers leading up to this year's May 1 holiday.
Workers like Hao express discontent with the policy, believing it was initially intended to promote consumption but now serves as a burden. The fear of job loss in the current post-Covid economic downturn has made employees hesitant to request additional leave beyond the designated holidays, a practice they previously felt comfortable with.
Employees also report feeling increased pressure to work harder as companies strive to achieve more with limited resources amidst economic challenges such as a property crisis, declining foreign investment, and subdued consumption.
