‘Unemployment is stressful…’: People of this nation rent office spaces and ‘Pretend to Work’ to hide joblessness

A growing trend has emerged in China as the unemployed seek solace in “pretend work” arrangements, renting office space and posing as bosses to avoid the public stigma of unemployment, according to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP). than INR 350) these services provide temporary shelter for those who do not wish to disclose their unemployment status to family members.

The report said that a viral video from North China’s Hebei Province featured a job rental service offering 29.9 yuan a day, which includes entry from 10am to 5pm along with lunch. “For 29.9 yuan a day, you can ‘work’ here from 10am to 5pm, including lunch.”

Another service, which charges 50 yuan (about US$7), allows individuals to sit on a leather chair and pose as the “boss” for photos designed to comfort family members. “A lot of big companies are laying off workers. I had a spare office and thought this might give the unemployed a place to stay and connect.”

The “pretend to work” concept has attracted considerable attention on mainland social media, with discussions garnering more than 100 million views. While some users support the idea as a way to ease the psychological burden of unemployment, others criticize it as a form of escapism that can hinder genuine efforts to find a job.

Unemployment remains a pressing problem in China, especially among the youth. The unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds hit a record high of 21.3 percent in June 2023, prompting the government to stop publishing unemployment data. There was a 1 percent decline.

Personal stories of individuals hiding their jobless status are emerging across the country.Jiawei, a former e-commerce worker from Hangzhou, shared his experience after losing his job and moving back in with his parents. “Being unemployed is stressful, but I didn’t want to pass that negativity on to my family,” he said, revealing that he had maintained his old work routine to avoid suspicion.

Zhang Yong, a professor of social work at Wuhan University of Science and Technology, describes the tendency to ‘pretend to work’ as a response to societal pressures shock can lead to depression,” he explained.