- By Akansha Pandey
- Wed, 04 Feb 2026 06:09 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Imagine for a moment that the workload at the company where you work becomes so heavy that even after your death, you cannot escape it—or rather, you die crushed under the weight of that work. It sounds strange, doesn't it? Perhaps some people reading this can even feel the weight of it. When a company's working culture becomes toxic, employees naturally try to escape, which is likely why every country has established fixed working hours. But are these fixed hours actually implemented? The answer is no.
This is evident from the news of a Chinese programmer's death due to workload, as reported by the South China Morning Post. It shows that while countries may fix working hours for show, companies in real life take advantage of people's helplessness.
Gao Guanghui, a 32-year-old Chinese programmer who worked hard for years, became a victim of a severity. He died suddenly, and eight hours after his death, he received a new work task message. The news of his overwork and death has gone viral on the internet, shaking the hearts of many.
Chinese Programmer’s Wife Recalls What Happened At The Last Moment
According to the report, Gao Guanghui's wife, Li, told SCMP that on the day her husband died, he woke up early and said he wasn't feeling well; he needed to sit down and would "do some work while he was at it."
What Caused The Employee’s Sudden Death
As soon as Gao Guanghui's health worsened, he began having convulsions, and he passed out on the way to the hospital. The Guangdong Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital pronounced Gao dead that afternoon. The cause of death was a sudden heart attack, which could have been the result of the stress of overwork.
How did Gao’s Life Change After The Promotion?
Gao's wife, Li, explains that after his promotion in 2021, Gao's workload increased significantly, and he returned home after 9:30 pm every day. When his wife protested, Gao pointed to his heavy workload and said he could not leave his team or the work early, nor could he take leave.
Emotionally, Li said, "If I could turn back time, I would force him to quit his job."
How Social Media Reacted To China's Worst Work Culture
As soon as the news broke, a large number of people expressed their thoughts and grief on social media. One user wrote, "It is so sad that he worked until the last moment of his life. No job is worth that." Another said, "This responsible man can finally get some rest."
The Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, which oversees Gao's company, stated they are investigating the case.
China’s Toxic Work Culture
A 2021 WHO report proves that working long hours has led to a 42 per cent increase in deaths from heart disease. In a country like China, where 8 hours are fixed for work, technology companies are notorious for their harsh work culture known as '996' (working from 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week). Although China’s labour law does not allow more than 8 hours a day or 44 hours a week, it is not properly enforced.