In a move to ward off high turnover rates, a PR firm in Zhujiang has come out with a new, innovative policy: employees are able to take a day of “paid depression leave” each year. In other words, if employees are feeling gloomy or sad, or just want to watch a movie at home, they can take a day off- no questions asked. Already the company reports that 1/3 of their employees have taken their “paid depression leave” since the policy was implemented three months ago. The reaction to the policy thus far from the employees seems to be positive.
The company also has also implemented a policy of “showing loving care for one’s child” day. This policy allows any employ with a child under 12 years old to take a day per month in which the employee can work from home. Even with the implementation of these progressive policies, a representative for the company acknowledged that these policies wouldn’t be able to solve all of the mental health issues and forms of stress workers tend to encounter.
The policy of having a “paid depression leave” reflects the increasing attention paid towards mental health in the workplace and the immense stress that many employees feel in the form of cutthroat capitalism that China has adopted. Earlier this June, CLB reported on the landmark award of over 57,000 yuan in compensation to an employee unfairly dismissed from computer giant IBM’s Shanghai subsidiary because of his medical condition.