2019中学生创新英语综合测评优秀作品展（二十一）——曲文英
2019中学生创新英语综合测评优秀作品联展开始啦！以下作品来自山东省邹平县第一中学的曲文英同学，辅导老师为郝丽娟。
The Fight for a Free and Happy Life
曲文英
山东省邹平县第一中学
辅导老师：郝丽娟
Go to work at 9:00 am.
Leave for home at 21:00 pm.
Work for at least 10 hours a day and 6 days a week ,with limited number of breaks.
If you are an Internet company’s employee, you may be having such a work pattern called “996”.
These days, a heated debate about 996 goes viral in China. Thousands of hundreds of workers come to query the logic of such a schedule .
In my eyes, this work pattern doesn’t appear by accident. The fierce competition, the fast-paced life are all reasons behind it. There is no doubt that 996 has seriously affected people’s normal lives. Workers have to sacrifice their time with family to stay up late in their companies. They might even have to sacrifice their health to meet companies’ pursuit of exorbitant profits. What an unfair trade!
“IT” workers’ lives seem to be tough. In 2015, a programmer, a Tsinghua University alumnae, died at an age of 36. Consistent worktime was one of the reasons. Before he died, he sent a message to his mother, saying that “I’m so tied.” His death reminds us that the exploited workers must stand against 996.
What should they do to fight for a free and happy life?
First of all, they should resort to the legal weapon--labour laws. According to the labour laws in China, works are supposed to work for less than 8 hours a day. Even though they need do some extra work, the time is limited within 36 hours in total. Obviously, 996 is illegal. It ignores legitimate rights and interests of workers.
What’s more, works can start their own business, and be their own boss. If so, their schedule will be dictated by themselves. They could be able to have better arrangement and control over working hours.
In addition, they could use technology to reveal the unfair reality. These days, an IT worker set up a website called “996 ICU ”on Github. And they could express complaints via it. The website causes enormous concern from the public. So, technology is a reliable partner that may help with the protests against 996.
As a sophomore in a senior high school, I also have the vision for my career, too. If I am an IT worker, I will say “no” to 996 with determination. Life is really colourful, and it should not be all about work. We still have family to accompany and friends to communicate with. Thus, place a high value on private life, and cherish our time with our beloved ones.
Everyone is placed in the complex society. Work is necessary and labour is fundamental. Everyone deserves a rich and happy life. Working is just a way for us to achieve some goal of life. Ultimately, a free and happy life is essential to us.
详情请见：2021中学生创新英语综合测评参评通知