Non-smokers can get an extra 4 days of annual leave as part of a new policy. Photo / 123rf
Non-smokers can get an extra 4 days of annual leave as part of a new policy. Photo / 123rf
Quitting smoking is not only good for your health, one boss is making it beneficial to employees too.
UK logistics firm KCJ Training and Employment Solutions managing director Don Bryden is offering all his non-smoking employees an extra four days of annual leave, news.com.au reported.
The idea came to Bryden after he recognised that staff members who smoked spent up to an hour each taking cigarette breaks.
"I looked at the other guys during these breaks and they're always on the phones, typing away and trying to do their work, so I thought they should be compensated," he told The Sun.
"Last year, I saw something on social media suggesting that workers who don't smoke should have an extra four days off."
The new policy has even encouraged workers to give up smoking in order to take advantage of the extra time off.
"Funnily enough, when I made the announcement some of the workers said they weren't going to smoke anymore, but it doesn't work like that," Bryden said.
Current smokers have to be able to prove they have given up smoking for a full year before they can get the extra days.
"I'm trying to give something back to the staff, little incentives to encourage them," he said.
Don Bryden is offering all his non-smoking employees an extra four days of annual leave. Photo / Facebook
The policy has been praised online with some tweeters even arguing that non-smokers deserve more than four days of leave.
It's a great idea. It's all very well having timed smoke breaks but we all know they never stick to it. 5 mins runs in to 8 etc. And really dedicated (aka heavy) smokers need many trips outside for a fag. Over a year I'm certain all their smoke breaks amount to longer 4 days 🤷🏻♀️
Another said: "Only four days? In my working life, if I added up the time SMOKERS spent having a QUICK ONE I could have had an extra four weeks a year!! And probably a double bonus saving wasted time."
CREATIVE POLICIES
The extra days off are the latest in innovative company policies to give employees more time off.
Australian companies Crowd Media and Versa both have four-day working weeks, with the shorter workweek debated in Finland.
Account firm Ernst & Young (EY) introduced a groundbreaking Life Leave policy in 2019 that allowed staff to take 12 weeks off per year.
The extra self-funded leave is able to be used for travel or relaxation and was rolled out with several options to help families.
There have also been more out-of-the-box ideas to allow staff extra time off, like the UK digital marketing agency that made news for introducing a "hangover policy".
The policy, introduced by The Audit Lab, allows employees to work from home if they are feeling rough but only if they have no meetings, are able to work remotely and don't abuse the system.
