How Much to Pay for the CEO's Birthday? Document Attached
Company Responds to Netizens' Criticism: "Employee's Voluntary Action"
A post has been uploaded stating that a franchise company in Bucheon is prohibiting employees from taking annual leave due to the CEO's birthday. Moreover, the company is collecting money from all employees below the vice president, causing public outrage.
On the 1st, an online community BobaeDream posted a message titled "Collecting money from employees because it is the CEO's birthday at a certain small-to-medium company." The author also attached the company's notice sent to all employees titled '[Notice] Ban on using annual leave on the workday following the holiday.'
The company's notice stated, "Department heads, who have the authority to approve annual leave, are requested to prohibit their team members from taking leave before and after the holiday," and explained, "Adjusting the dates of annual leave use due to unavoidable company business is not a violation of the Labor Standards Act."
It further added, "Please be reminded once again that using annual leave before and after the holiday is an act that goes against performing dense work."
Additionally, the company attached a document showing how much each employee must pay for the CEO's birthday. Vice presidents, executive directors, senior managing directors, and directors are required to pay 70,000 won; department heads and deputy department heads, 50,000 won; and managers and below, 30,000 won.
On the 1st, a post titled "A CEO of a small company is collecting money from employees for his birthday" was uploaded on the online community BobaeDream. [Photo by online community 'BobaeDream']
This post received about 160,000 views and over 560 comments within a day. Comments included statements such as "I've never seen such a case in my life," "You should file a complaint with the Labor Office," and "Do they celebrate employees' birthdays in return?"
The Labor Standards Act stipulates that workers can freely use their annual leave at their desired time. Accordingly, employers must allow workers to take leave at the time requested in accordance with relevant legal regulations.
Regarding this, the company stated, "The employees voluntarily organized a 60th birthday party for the CEO's 60th birthday, and there was absolutely no directive from management. The claim that this has caused public outrage among employees is also untrue."
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