To tackle workplace anxiety, Chinese supermarket chain Pang Dong Lai has started offering up to 10 days of ‘unhappy leave’ annually.
Founder and chairman of Pang Dong Lai, Yu Donglai, has introduced an "unhappy leave" policy, allowing employees to take up to 10 additional days off per year when they are feeling down or stressed.
This policy stands in sharp contrast to the grueling "996" work culture at some Chinese firms, where employees toil 12-hour days, 6 days a week.
The company also mandates 7-hour workdays, weekends off, 30-40 days of annual leave, and 5 days off for Lunar New Year.
Experts believe such progressive policies can boost productivity, engagement, and retention by catering to employees' overall well-being.
This raises the question - can innovative measures like "unhappy leave" help shift toxic work cultures towards better work-life balance and employee wellness?