A 47-year-old employee was found dead at SenseTime, a leading artificial intelligence player in China, last Saturday, after his coworkers found him unconscious at the office. The incident has drawn attention to the punishing work schedule at tech firms in mainland China.

A video circulating online showed his body rigid against a chair with bruises on his legs. His phone laid on the ground near his feet. Paramedics confirmed he was dead on the spot.

The deceased staff member, who was from Shanghai, reportedly entered the gym at 6:30 p.m. and left at around 8:30 p.m.

On its Weibo account, SenseTime said the company has immediately notified his family and is actively cooperating with the police’s investigation. “SenseTime has always valued the health of its employees and will work with the family to arrange the funeral and offer compensation,” it wrote.

The news came after a 27-year-old employee at the Fuzhou branch of the electrical appliance company Gome dropped dead during an annual meeting earlier this month. The incidents renewed debates about the hustle culture of China and how it came at the expense of workers’ health.

Hong Kong data scientist Wong Ho-wa said the working hours usually depend on the company and its culture. While most companies in Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas do not encourage staff to work around the clock, long hours such as “996” - referring to a 12-hour shift, six days a week - is a norm in China.

Management style in China is more top-down, Wong explained. While staff may overwork themselves in a bid to obtain a bonus or shares, companies play an inexcusable role in promoting an unhealthy atmosphere, he said.

Francis Fong, honorary chairperson of the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, called on employees to pay attention to work-life balance and avoid straining themselves.

SenseTime’s work stretches across different industries, ranging from smartphones, online entertainment, smart cities, education, advertisements to real estate. It also collaborates with major tech firms including Xiaomi and Alibaba.

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