Zhang Yan, a manager at a Beijing consultancy company, normally works five days a week, but had to work for eight consecutive days after the three-day New Year's holiday that ended on Jan 3.

"It was really painful," she said. "All of my colleagues were reluctant to work after the holiday, knowing eight workdays lay ahead, and everyone was exhausted by the end.

"Such an arrangement is not very rational. My body clock is used to a five-day work schedule."