The office also has a drinks bar serving beer for employees to enjoy during working hours. -- PHOTO: TRUSTRING.JP/ INSTAGRAM via The Straits Times/ANN
TOKYO (The Straits Times/ANN): Nursing a hangover and struggling to get out of bed for work?
Employees at a small IT firm in Japan have the option of catching a few extra winks and reporting to the office at noon instead of 9am, as part of a unique perk dubbed “hangover leave”.
TrustRing, which is based in the western Japanese prefecture of Osaka, has adopted this new system in a bid to attract talent amid the country’s labour shortage.
Speaking to Japanese broadcaster Kansai Television, Mr Daigaku Shimada, the company’s chief executive, said these unusual benefits have helped to increase the firm’s competitiveness, given its limitations in offering higher salaries.
In doing so, the firm is able to create an environment where employees “can have fun at work”, he said.
TrustRing has about 60 employees, and new hires are paid a monthly salary of 222,000 yen (S$1,970), including 20 hours of overtime pay.
In the interview with Kansai Television, a young female employee is seen arriving at the office at 12pm, three hours later than Mr Shimada.
She explained that she does live streaming in her free time, and this sometimes involves downing drinks during the broadcasts.
Applying for “hangover leave” has allowed her to turn up at work feeling more refreshed, she said.
“I’ve been looking for a company like that,” another employee added. “I’m motivated to work harder, knowing that I can ‘slack off’ at times.”
TrustRing’s efforts to appeal to younger employees have paid off, with Mr Shimada noting a healthy daily attendance at work and no resignations in the past three years.
Another incentive that has gained popularity among staff is the drinks bar, which serves draft beer and a selection of spirits during working hours.
Netizens have expressed mixed reactions about the company’s initiatives.
“With 60 employees, the turnover rate of zero is quite impressive. I think that for many people, having low stress at work is more important than a high salary,” said one YouTube user.
However, another user added: “These are probably just meant for advertisement, and are not actual welfare benefits.”
According to the South China Morning Post, TrustRing had previously rolled out “celebrity loss leave”, where employees are able to take time off to recuperate from upsetting news about their favourite celebrities, including when they get married.
Outside of Japan, other companies are also adopting innovative ways to retain talent.
For instance, Chinese supermarket chain Pang Dong Lai has introduced 10 days of “unhappy leave” for employees who feel overwhelmed or unmotivated at work. - The Straits Times/ANN
