Business 'can only endure' if workers are healthy, says CEO at paper company
A paper company in China has taken an unconventional approach to employee bonuses by linking them directly to running mileage, according to reports.
Business Insider, citing the Guangzhou Daily, reported how Guangdong Dongpo Paper would determine how much bonus would an employee get based on the number of miles they ran each month.
According to the report, employees are required to clock 62 miles every month to be eligible for an annual bonus equivalent to 130% of their monthly salary.
A slightly lower target of 31 miles per month will secure an annual bonus equivalent to one month's salary, the report said, while those who could only manage 19 miles per month will get an annual bonus worth 30% of their monthly salary.
In addition to bonuses, employees who manage to consistently cover 31 miles each month for six consecutive months will also get a complimentary pair of running shoes.
Lin Zhiyong, chairman of Guangdong Dongpo Paper, told Guangzhou Daily that the business "can only endure" if employees are healthy.
The company has about 100 employees on its payroll, according to the reports, which also found that bonus scheme was welcomed by its workforce.
Integrating exercise at work
The scheme by Guangdong Dongpo Paper adds it to the list of employers integrating physical activities in the workplace.
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In 2023, CNBC reported that meal-prep company Nutrition Solutions has introduced a free exercise class on Wednesdays and Fridays for employees.
Chris Cavallini, Nutrition Solutions CEO, told the news outlet that employees going to these classes "are on the clock."
"They're getting compensated whatever their pay rate is to be there," Cavallini said. "It's basically logged into their normal pay, just like the regular hours they would work. It works exactly the same."
According to the CEO, they introduced the free classes to help employees develop resilience, adding that promoting the physical and mental health of staff can also help businesses.
"Making this investment into them becoming a better version of themselves is a fail-safe investment, and it's definitely one that I would suggest, in one shape or form, that other leaders implement. The return is you're going to have a stronger, more disciplined, more energized team member," he said as quoted by CNBC.