At the firm’s annual banquet, an employee of an undisclosed Chinese corporation got 365 days of paid leave. Yes, you read that correctly! A WHOLE YEAR OF COMPENSATED LEAVE! On Sunday, the company’s annual dinner was held in Shenzhen, Guangdong.
In a video that has gone popular on Chinese social media, the man is shown clutching a large cheque that reads “365 days of paid leave” and is reportedly a manager at the company.
“Young guy wins 365 days of paid leave at annual meeting,” says the video title.
An administrative staffer named Chen is heard in the video claiming that the fortunate draw winner constantly asked if the reward was real.
The lucky draw pot consisted of both prizes and penalties. A penalty could be drinking a “special homemade drink” or serving as a waiter. Prizes included one or two rest days or annual leaves. There was only one grand prize of 365 days of paid leave.
Even the boss was “stunned” that someone had won 365 days of paid leave. “(We) never thought that this (lot) would be drawn by someone,” Chen laughed. “Hahaha, the boss was stunned.”
The annual dinner was reportedly not organised for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lucky draw was held to give employees some relief from work stress.
Chen said that the employee will be asked if would want to encash the prize or enjoy his paid leave.
Many people thought that it was an April Fools’ joke, while others enquired about vacancies at the company. Some said that such lucky prizes go to “employees who are about to leave the company” to lure them to stay. Others opined that such an extended period of paid leave is simply “an excuse for the boss to fire someone”.
One user said, “Dare he accept the prize? After a year, he might return to find someone else in his role.” Another wrote, “It’s just like maternity leave.”
Other people noted that the employee would miss out on possible increments, bonuses or promotions that could raise his regular salary and he would fall behind in career growth.
Yet another added, “After a year, if I come back and feel that I can’t continue (in the company), I’ll change jobs. Besides, the work experience (I acquire) will still be legitimate.”
In January 2022, a sales employee from another company, also in Shenzhen, won the jackpot prize of 365 days of paid leave. The employee encashed a portion of his award and donated part of it to local charities, Chinese media reported.