Social media platform LinkedIn has given its 15,900 US full-time employees an extra paid week off to help combat burnout.
As well as US staff having Monday 4 July off to celebrate Independence Day, the organisation has given them an extra four days of paid annual leave, creating a fully paid week off overall. A core team of employees will continue to work for the week and will be able to schedule time off in lieu at a later date.
The paid week off, which does not count towards employees’ holiday allowance, is a benefit that LinkedIn provides twice a year. Having all but a core team of staff on leave aims to avoid staff returning from holiday to find that work has piled up in their absence.
The policy started last year on 5 April, when LinkedIn surveyed its employees and found that the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic was causing burnout symptoms.
The organisation has also implemented the initiative LiftUp, geared toward improving employees' mental health with additional training and resources and takes note of the need for time off to recharge.
Dan Colwin, account director at LinkedIn, wrote in a LinkedIn post: "It’s an amazing gift and I’m very grateful for it and for the crew who is working, keeping everything on here running smoothly. This is what the LinkedIn Life is all about.”
Teuila Hanson, chief people officer at LinkedIn, said: “We wanted to make sure we could give them something really valuable, and what we think is most valuable right now is time for all of us to collectively walk away.”
