A special trend has swept through China, where unemployed young people are paying to pretend to work in rented offices — without earning a single penny. These “pretend-to-work companies” have been growing in popularity this year to meet a growing demand among unemployed youths.
These specialized companies offer daily “workplace experiences” for fees ranging from 30 to 50 yuan. Customers gain access to office amenities like desks, lunch areas, and Wi-Fi, offering anyone the chance to experience various working environments. For people who want more real-like feelings, extra payment can get them “task packages”. These include made-up tasks, fake managers, and even arranged team meetings or minor workplace conflicts.
People’s motivations to pay to mimic a routine that many strive to escape vary widely. Some view it as a social experiment. They think staying home all day feels aimless. Here, they dress up, commute, and interact with others — even if it’s all pretend. It gives structure to their day. Others see it as a low-cost alternative to cafes or co-working spaces. For them, it is just nice to be able to go somewhere cheap to relax instead of staying at certain a shop for a whole day. Most importantly, they don’t feel guilty about staying for hours. A few hop that the experience might help them secure a real job in the near future.
Critics argue that the trend mirrors underlying social tensions. “It’s a symptom of work-centered culture,” a sociologist (社会学家) noted. “Young people feel pressured to ‘look busy’ even when unemployed, fearing judgment from family or peers.” Yet supporters defend it as harmless escapism. “It’s no different from role-playing games,” said an Internet user. “We’re just creating our own version of adulting without the stress of real deadlines or bosses.”
原创编写 版权所有 侵权必究！ 每日更新 个性化阅读 英语飙升！
更多优质学习内容
