While it’s not a strict law, it is a work perk that’s taken hold within many businesses as a way of keeping workplaces accessible for all, no matter how far you live.
Loading
Marriage leave: If you live in Spain and get married, then by law you automatically get 15 days of leave to enjoy the high. Since 2005 this applies for same-sex couples also, and a few years ago the Spanish Supreme Court ruled that marriage leave must start the next business day after your wedding.
It’s a unique perk that almost every Spanish worker takes up as soon as they’ve made their vows.
Customised workspaces: This one is not a common perk, but US tech company Asana used to give all new employees a budget of $US10,000 (about $15,350) on their first day to completely customise their workspace however they want.
They could choose from sitting or standing desks, special chairs, bountiful plants or elaborate computer set-ups. However, this was when they had just a few hundred staff, and now that they’ve grown to 4000 this expensive perk seems to have been quietly discarded.
Hangover time: A Japanese IT firm, TrustRing, announced an unusual employee benefit earlier this year: hangover leave. Instead of having to start work at 9am after a big night out, workers could report to the office at midday instead. Now, I don’t see this trend catching on in every workplace, but it’s a clear signal for the type of worker they’re trying to attract.
The way we are working is rapidly changing, so it makes sense that the way we reward people should too. Having the right work perks is never going to be a replacement for a healthy workplace and a fair salary, but every little bit still helps.
Tim Duggan is author of Work Backwards: The Revolutionary Method to Work Smarter and Live Better. He writes a regular newsletter at timduggan.substack.com
Get workplace news, advice and perspectives to help make your job work for you. Sign up for our weekly Thank God it’s Monday newsletter.
