An employee of an unnamed company in China has won the ultimate prize at the firm’s annual dinner – 365 days of paid leave!
The man, who reportedly holds a managerial position in the company, was seen holding a big cheque with the prize written on it in a viral video on Chinese social media. While many people thought it was an April Fools’ joke, the prize was real, and the employee will be given the option to either encash the prize or enjoy the paid leave.
The lucky draw had both prizes and penalties, such as drinking a “special homemade drink” or serving as a waiter, but there was only one grand prize of 365 days of paid leave. Even the boss was surprised that someone had won the prize, saying, “Hahaha, the boss was stunned”.
The annual dinner had reportedly not been held for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lucky draw was held to give employees some relief from work stress.
While some people wondered if the prize was just an excuse for the boss to fire someone or that such lucky prizes go to “employees who are about to leave the company” to lure them to stay, others pointed out 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.
However, some people also suggested that the work experience acquired during the leave period would still be legitimate.
This is not the first time an employee in China has won 365 days of paid leave as a prize. In January 2022, a sales employee from another company in Shenzhen won the jackpot and encashed a portion of the award while donating part of it to local charities.
As they say, “work hard, play hard”. So while a year-long break from work may seem too good to be true, it’s a reminder that sometimes, companies need to reward their employees for their hard work and dedication.
