On August 17th, the topic of “people spending 30 yuan a day to ‘pretend to work'” trended on social media. In Hangzhou, China, a place called the “Pretend to Work Unlimited Company” quietly became popular. Here, there is office space, workstations, and even strict rules and regulations, but everything is “fake.” The “employees” here pay a daily rent of 30 yuan to participate in a virtual workplace with no key performance indicators (KPI), no managers, and no promotions, where they act out the performance of “pretending to work.”
The absurd “employment initiation ceremony” begins with the first interview “on set.”
According to Jiupai News, the Pretend to Work Unlimited Company in Hangzhou has a 400-square-meter space with dozens of workstations, meeting rooms, and printers available. The rules posted on the wall include no tardiness, no snoring at the workstation, no smoking, drinking, or using profanities, and office romances are prohibited.
Applicants have to fill out an application form, undergo a “pretend interview,” receive an employee badge, pay a daily rent of 30 yuan, and begin a day of “pretend work.”
Those who come here include recent graduates, the unemployed, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Some come to experience the atmosphere of a workplace and alleviate their jobless anxiety.
Bo Nan, a 24-year-old recent graduate, had his first official interview at this “pretend to work company.” He presented his design work to the boss, Chen Yingjian, talked enthusiastically about his entrepreneurial dreams, and ultimately received a “passed interview” card. The entire process was full of ceremony but exuded a surreal sense of absurdity.
For Bo Nan, he chose to be here to “create a sense of urgency,” keeping his life and work separate. For boss Chen Yingjian, “pretense” is a core concept. He believes that as long as a person is willing to pretend to work hard, it shows that they still have ambition. This “company” serves as a transitional zone, with the hope that people who “pretend for a long time will eventually turn into real workers doing real work.”
Chen Yingjian revealed that currently, there are around thirty to forty “employees” working here, but there are already hundreds in the reservation group. He emphasized that more than sixty percent are “pretending to work but actually working,” managing their own tasks.
Everything is “fake” but reflects real anxiety.
The trend of “pretending to work” reflects the common anxiety of contemporary young people towards traditional workplace models.
A former “employee” using the pseudonym Xiaoling was once a high-paying employee in a Shanghai internet company but ultimately chose to resign and work full-time in the media industry. She admitted that she didn’t want to follow the path perfectly planned by her parents for her across generations.
After Xiaoling arrived at the “company,” she recorded a video for her mother, claiming she had “found a job.” Her mother reminded her to dress formally because in the older generation’s concept, going to work is something that should be done formally. Xiaoling looked around the office space in a standard office building, which was no different from her memory of a real workplace. Located in a standard office building with workstations, meeting rooms, reception areas, and even security downstairs. In reality, this is not even a “real company,” everything here is “fake.”
The report points out that the appeal of “pretending to work” reflects the widespread anxiety of today: how to balance work and life? How can young people find harmony in a performance-driven society? Beyond the highly institutionalized “social clock,” can people find a new rhythm for themselves?
In this space without KPIs, no senior evaluations, or promotion ladder, time presents a more personalized face. For some people, this freedom also brings confusion. Bo Nan admits that confusion is a common state for people, as “life feels like passing through a node, yet not knowing what to do next.”
The “Pretend to Work Company,” seemingly absurd, is a subtle response of contemporary young people to society. It is not just a business providing workstations but a place where young people can “store their lives” and find a reflection of their own rhythm during the transitional period of life.