Two companies in Asia, Gushcloud International and
Whiteline Group, are reportedly offering their employees a new type
of benefit – ‘Tinder Leave’. This article explores what
Tinder Leave is and whether it may benefit employees if employers
introduced it in Hong Kong.
What is Tinder Leave?
Tinder Leave is essentially a wellness benefit. It is time-off
provided to an employee for the purpose of going on dates and
pursuing romantic relationships on the dating app, Tinder. It aims
to encourage employees to take time off to build meaningful social
connections outside of work.
Will it benefit employees if employers introduced it in Hong
Kong?
Gushcloud International, an entertainment company headquartered
in Singapore, is currently offering Tinder Leave to eligible
employees in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,Singapore, South
Korea and Thailand; while it appears Whiteline Group, a Thai
marketing agency, is currently offering it to employees in Thailand
where the company operates. In either case, it seems that the
benefit is not (yet) being offered in Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong, the fertility rate is at an all-time low prompting the Government to roll
out a series of measures including a cash bonus of HK$20,000 for
each newborn. The number of unmarried persons in Hong Kong has also
increased following the general trend of marriage postponement or
non-marriage over the past few years. Further, the proportion of
elderly persons aged 65 and over is also projected to increase from
20.5% in 2021 to 36% in 2046.
Against this backdrop, offering progressive perks such as Tinder
Leave may allow employers to be in a better position to compete for
and retain talent.
Employees, particularly those who are at the stage of life where
they are looking for a partner and considering marriage, will
likely value Tinder Leave. In a city like Hong Kong, which is
notorious for being one of the most overworked cities in the world,
where median hours worked consistently range above 40 hours per week across all
sectors, it would not be surprising if many employees find it
challenging to find time outside of work to date and meet new
people. Many employees in these situations may eventually find
themselves completely consumed by work and this would ultimately
affect employee wellbeing and morale.
By providing time-off to employees to date and meet new people,
this could enable employees to better balance their career and
relationship goals, and boost employee wellbeing and morale. It may
also strengthen employee loyalty as employees may be more inclined
to work for an employer that takes care of their wellbeing.
Ultimately, it could be a win-win situation for employers and
employees.
Food for thought
Tinder Leave or any other similar leave that would allow
employees to take time-off to date and build meaningful social
connections outside of work is still a very new concept. However,
with several sizable companies having set an example of offering it
in several Asia Pacific countries, it is possible that this
progressive benefit may develop into a mainstream benefit.Even if
Tinder Leave is not something an employer is considering to offer
right now, it is definitely something an employer should have on
their radar and employers should stay abreast of what their
competitors are doing so that they can remain competitive.
For those employers who are considering offering Tinder Leave or
a similar type of leave,since there is currently no legislation
regulating this type of leave, employers have a lot of flexibility
over how it wishes to provide this benefit. Some key considerations
may include how many days to offer, and whether it should be paid
or unpaid time-off. In devising a Tinder Leave (or similar leave)
policy, employers should ensure that it does not infringe any
anti-discrimination legislation. For example, if the benefit is
only made available to women then this would breach the Sex
Discrimination Ordinance. In any event, employers should clearly
communicate to their employees the eligibility criteria and other
details of the benefit to minimise disputes. We would also be
pleased to assist you in reviewing or drafting a Tinder Leave (or
similar leave) policy.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
