Baemin and Yogiyo Also Offer... Innovation Companies Rush to Provide 'Vaccine Leave'

Woowa Brothers and DHK Both Introduce Vaccine Leave... Two Days Each for 1st and 2nd Dose
Remaining Vaccine Reservations as Background... Significant Increase in Applicants Including Office Workers
Impact of IT Talent Competition... "Vaccine Leave Is Symbolic Welfare"
"Feeling More Colleagues Applying for Vaccination... Industry Adoption Expected to Continue"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Junhyung Lee] Following Coupang, Woowa Brothers and Delivery Hero Korea (DHK) are also introducing paid leave for COVID-19 vaccinations. This is due to an increase in the number of office workers applying for leftover vaccine doses. It is also seen as part of ‘recruitment branding’ to attract talent. As innovative companies compete to introduce vaccine leave, a ‘vaccine leave trend’ is expected to sweep the industry.

According to the industry on the 3rd, both Woowa Brothers, operator of the delivery app Baedal Minjok, and DHK, operator of Yogiyo, have decided to introduce paid leave for COVID-19 vaccinations. This means all three major players in the delivery industry have adopted vaccine leave. Woowa Brothers and DHK will provide paid leave of two days each for the first and second doses to employees who receive the vaccine. The number of employees is approximately 1,800 at Woowa Brothers and about 1,200 at DHK.

Earlier the day before, announcements of vaccine leave adoption were made one after another at various innovative companies. Following e-commerce company Coupang, accommodation platforms Yanolja and Yeogi Eottae also announced that they would provide paid leave to employees who get vaccinated. Yeogi Eottae even offered an unprecedented vaccine leave of up to 14 days of paid leave if adverse symptoms are diagnosed after vaccination. On the same day, Croquis.com, operator of the shopping app Zigzag, which raised its profile by featuring actress Youn Yuh-jung as a model, also announced the introduction of vaccine leave.

Musinsa, regarded as the next-generation unicorn in the fashion industry, also introduced vaccine leave. About 600 employees are eligible. A Musinsa official said, “Although we have not made a separate announcement, we are operating vaccine leave,” adding, “We grant a total of four days of leave, two days each for the first and second doses.”

'No-show' Remaining Vaccine Inquiry
(Gwangju=Yonhap News) On the morning of the 27th, an employee at Buk-gu Office in Gwangju is accessing the reservation system through a smartphone app to find remaining vaccines. 2021.5.27 [Provided by Buk-gu Office, Gwangju. Redistribution and DB prohibited]
pch80@yna.co.kr
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The availability of leftover vaccine reservations starting from the 27th of last month is the background for the ‘vaccine leave relay’ continuing in the industry. As so-called ‘no-show vaccines’ could be reserved and administered on the same day via platforms like Naver and Kakao, more ordinary people began seeking vaccines. The Janssen vaccine reservation, which started on the 1st, became a catalyst. The Janssen vaccine reservation, conducted for reservists aged 30 to under 60 and civil defense personnel, was closed early after 900,000 people applied within about 18 hours of opening.

Government recommendations also played a role. In April, the government introduced the ‘vaccine leave system’ and recommended that private companies follow this guideline. The policy is to provide paid leave on the day of vaccination and the following day without requiring a doctor’s note for those who experience adverse reactions after vaccination.

There are also reports that the ‘talent war’ centered on the IT industry influenced this trend. As companies compete to attract excellent talent such as developers by enhancing salaries and welfare benefits, they could not ignore the socially significant issue of vaccine leave. A platform industry insider explained, “Vaccine leave has already emerged as a symbolic welfare benefit in the industry,” adding, “It can also be seen as part of recruitment branding to manage the company’s image for talent acquisition.”

A representative of startup A, which recently introduced vaccine leave, said, “I can clearly feel that more colleagues around me are applying for vaccines like Janssen,” and added, “It seems natural that the introduction of (vaccine leave) will continue in the industry.”

Meanwhile, some companies with already substantial welfare benefits did not feel the need to introduce vaccine leave. Fintech company Toss is a representative example. Toss implements an ‘unlimited vacation system’ for all employees. A Toss official said, “Employees can freely use vacation days beyond the legally mandated annual leave,” adding, “There is no need to get prior approval from supervisors; reporting on the day is sufficient.”