Major Conglomerates Step Up for Work-Life Balance During the 'Sandwich Holiday'
From Designated Company Holidays to Encouraged and Voluntary Leave
On September 13 last year, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, travelers heading home boarded buses at the Express Bus Terminal in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
With the upcoming Chuseok holiday (October 3-12), major conglomerates are either designating October 10 (Friday), a so-called "sandwich day," as a company-wide holiday or encouraging employees to use their annual leave, allowing staff to enjoy up to a ten-day golden holiday.
Company-Designated Holidays Guarantee a 'Golden Holiday'
Some companies designate company-wide holidays so that employees can take time off without using their individual annual leave. Photo by Asia Economy Database
Some companies are directly designating holidays at the company level so that employees can take time off without using their annual leave. Kia has designated October 10 as an alternative holiday, allowing employees to rest without deducting from their annual leave. At DL E&C, since this day coincides with the company's founding anniversary, a company-wide holiday has been confirmed, enabling all employees to enjoy a ten-day golden holiday.
Hyundai Engineering & Construction has also designated this day as a company-wide holiday, effectively instituting a collective break. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, in accordance with its labor-management agreement, will grant special leave so that all employees benefit. Such company-level holiday designations are seen as practical measures to guarantee work-life balance, allowing employees to enjoy a "10-day consecutive vacation" without worrying about using their annual leave.
Encouraging Voluntary Use of Annual Leave
On January 24, just before the Lunar New Year holiday, travelers visiting Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 were lining up to move to the boarding concourse.
On the other hand, some companies are not designating specific holidays, instead leaving the decision to employees' discretion. At Samsung, employees are required to enter their annual leave plans at the beginning of the year, so except for essential personnel, those who applied in advance will likely be able to take time off without restrictions. Most major SK affiliates, depending on the company, are also encouraging voluntary use of annual leave, allowing employees to take personal vacations at their discretion. LG affiliates such as LG Electronics, LG Energy Solution, and LG Household & Health Care have also designated October 10 as a recommended holiday, but the decision to use leave is left entirely up to employees. HD Hyundai is similarly encouraging the use of annual leave, promoting a voluntary approach to time off. POSCO Group is allowing employees to freely choose between working or taking leave on October 10. Doosan Group is also operating this day as a recommended annual leave day.
This move by large corporations goes beyond simple employee benefits and reflects a broader shift in organizational culture across the industry. Experts note that the recognition of "employee happiness and life satisfaction directly leading to corporate productivity and sustainable growth" is becoming a core value in business management. They add that "systems guaranteeing holidays, even if they incur short-term costs, are essential strategies for corporate longevity, organizational stability, and profitability," and that "employee rest is now an investment that ensures corporate competitiveness, not a choice."
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