In a bold move to prioritize mental health and work-life balance, a Chinese retail giant has rolled out a groundbreaking policy dubbed ‘unhappy leave,’ granting employees the flexibility to take time off when they’re feeling emotionally strained.
Mr. Yu Donglai, founder and chairman of Pang Dong Lai, unveiled this progressive initiative, offering workers an additional 10 days of leave to address periods of unhappiness. Acknowledging the universal reality that everyone experiences moments of discontent, Mr. Yu emphasized the importance of recognizing and addressing these emotions rather than soldiering on at work.
Under the new policy, employees have the autonomy to schedule their rest days, with management prohibited from rejecting such requests—a move aimed at fostering a culture of respect and understanding towards employees’ mental well-being.
This groundbreaking approach is part of the company’s broader commitment to establishing essential work boundaries and promoting a healthy work environment. Employees are entitled to work a maximum of seven hours per day, with weekends off, supplemented by 30 to 40 days of annual leave and additional time off during the Lunar New Year festivities.
Mr. Yu reiterated the company’s focus on nurturing a balanced lifestyle for its workforce, prioritizing employee welfare over mere expansion. He emphasized the significance of freedom and love within the workplace, underlining the company’s commitment to recognizing and rewarding employees based on their professional capabilities, irrespective of their job titles.
The announcement has garnered widespread praise on Chinese social media platform Weibo, with users lauding the company’s progressive stance on employee well-being. Many express admiration for the company’s culture and express a desire to work in such an environment, signaling a positive shift in attitudes towards mental health in the workplace.
The initiative comes in response to concerning trends in workplace anxiety, with surveys indicating that a significant portion of Chinese employees experience unhappiness and fatigue at work—an issue that Mr. Yu’s innovative policy aims to address head-on.