A tech company in Osaka, Japan, is offering unconventional leave benefits—including time off for hangovers and emotional distress over celebrity news—to attract young employees amid a shrinking workforce.
TrustRing, the company behind the initiative, introduced these policies as part of its strategy to remain competitive in a tight labor market where over 60% of small- and medium-sized businesses report labor shortages, according to The Japan Times.
Company president Daigaku Shimada said that while they can only offer new hires a monthly salary of 222,000 yen (about PhP85,000) plus overtime pay, the unique leave options have proven effective in boosting employee satisfaction.
One staff member shared that after applying for a “hangover leave,” she was able to rest a few extra hours before heading to work, which ultimately improved her productivity. Another employee took a “celebrity loss leave” after being emotionally affected by the marriage announcement of her favorite musician and actor, Gen Hoshino.
TrustRing has also added a drinks bar at the workplace and has reported zero employee resignations in the past three years, further highlighting the success of its unorthodox employee perks.
