Approximately 600,000 Chinese die each year as a result of exhaustion caused by overwork, an article on ITWorld Canada reports. Other studies put that number as high as 1 million.According to the article, it’s difficult to get accurate figures on overworked employees because it’s not technically a disease. However, as the author, Joaquim P. Menezes, points out, extreme fatigue can wear away at a person’s immune system. The cause of death won’t be recorded as exhaustion, but as something else.Menezes illustrates a recent example in China, where Hu Xinyu, a software engineer with Huawei Technologies, died in May. His death was the result of extreme fatigue caused by overwork. However, hospital reports list the cause of death as bacterial encephalitis.The article reports that Hu Xinyu was an athlete and sports enthusiast before he joined the major telecom company in China’s Guangdong province. After countless hours of overtime and succumbing to extreme job pressure, his weakened condition led to his infection. His death on May 28 triggered a public outcry because this scenario is all too common in China, ITWorld Canada reports. Xinyu represents millions of workers worldwide trapped by this “culture” of overwork.The article states that a few days after Xinyu’s death, a Huawei spokesman said the company was saddened by the news, adding that no employee should work later than 10 p.m. without permission and that no one was allowed to stay inside the workplace overnight. Compiled by Paul KersteinKeep checking in at our Security Feed for updated news coverage. Related content feature Top cybersecurity M&A deals for 2023 Fears of recession, rising interest rates, mass tech layoffs, and conservative spending trends are likely to make dealmakers cautious, but an ever-increasing need to defend against bigger and faster attacks will likely keep M&A activity steady in By CSO Staff Sep 22, 2023 24 mins Mergers and Acquisitions Mergers and Acquisitions Mergers and Acquisitions brandpost Unmasking ransomware threat clusters: Why it matters to defenders Similar patterns of behavior among ransomware treat groups can help security teams better understand and prepare for attacks By Joan Goodchild Sep 21, 2023 3 mins Cybercrime news analysis China’s offensive cyber operations support “soft power” agenda in Africa Researchers track Chinese cyber espionage intrusions targeting African industrial sectors. By Michael Hill Sep 21, 2023 5 mins Advanced Persistent Threats Cyberattacks Critical Infrastructure brandpost Proactive OT security requires visibility + prevention You cannot protect your operation by simply watching and waiting. It is essential to have a defense-in-depth approach. By Austen Byers Sep 21, 2023 4 mins Security Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe