Slowly but surely, companies all across the nation are beginning to realize that their employees’ work/life balance is directly tied to the success of the business. While European countries have been experimenting with weekly hours and perk packages for some time now, American corporations are starting to follow suit. After all, according to data from the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the top five happiest nations in the world are Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Unsurprisingly, most of these nations have implemented four-day work weeks and their citizens are subsequently happier than any others.
While some companies have been experimenting with shorter work weeks, others have implemented policies that include increased vacation time. At Toca Boca, not only are they giving employees more time for vacation, they’re paying for it too.
Via Business Insider:
Employees are given $2,300 and seven days to go on an “inspiration trip” anywhere in the world. That week doesn’t count toward their vacation days.
Any one of the company’s approximately 70 workers can go on a trip (once they plan things out with their manager). Spouses can even tag along. If a worker’s travel expenses add up to less than $2,300, the surplus rolls over to their next inspiration trip.
Toca Boca CEO and co-founder Bjorn Jeffery says that the perk not only reflects Toca Boca’s values but it creates a competitive advantage, as well.
“It acknowledges the importance of feeling inspired when you’re doing creative work,” he says. ” It also acknowledges that different people need different things to feel inspired. Perks don’t have to be super expensive — they can just break the mold of what you expect. That alone can have a positive impact on work culture.”
He also notes that giving people the opportunity to get away from the office for a while is a great productivity booster.
“When people come back from a trip, generally speaking, they’re rested and they’re happy,” Jeffery says. “If they like their job, they’ve been looking forward to go back to work.”
