I'm all for personal leave and sick leave for employees. But now, Japanese marketing firm, Hime & Company has upped the ante, by offering its workers heartache leave.
This company is generous with its leave entitle
ments. It even gives employees paid leave "to hit the shops during sales season."
After a relationship break up
Staff aged 24 years or younger can take one day off per year, while those between 25 and 29 can take two days off and those older can take three days off, the company said.
Women in their 20s can find their next love quickly, but it's tougher for women in their 30s, and their break-ups tend to be more serious.
Everyone deals with crises in a different way, and a few days away from work may certainly help. After all, mental health is as important as physical health.
Potential Discrimination
I'm not sure that calling it "heartache leave" is helpful though. It also appears somewhat discriminatory to vary the entitlement according to age and gender. Men don't seem to feature in this policy at all.
Personal Or Special Leave - An Equitable Approach
I think it would be more equitable to call it personal or special leave. This would allow all employees to use this allocated leave for a range of equally legitimate personal circumstances, rather than specifically for relationship break ups.
A Proactive Company
Hime & Company appears to have its employees' interests in mind. An organization that is generous and proactive enough to support its employees with "heartache leave" is bound to be able to work out an equitable solution for all.
