'This is a great way to take care of our employees in their relationship goals'
Employees at entertainment company Gushcloud International are getting an additional paid day of leave to go on dates under the organisation's new "Tinder Leave" benefit.
Gushcloud said the benefit stems from a new partnership with Tinder, which will also provide employees with access to Tinder subscriptions.
Eligible employees include Gushcloud staff members in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.
Althea Lim, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Gushcloud International, said they are thrilled to sponsor Tinder subscriptions and the Tinder leave as part of their upgraded employee perks.
"We believe that fostering a healthy social life is essential, and this is a great way to take care of our employees in their relationship goals, whether that's meeting new people, making new friends, or finding a life partner," Lim said in a statement.
A spokesperson from Tinder underscored the importance of enhancing the social and personal lives of employees.
"A healthy personal relationship is an increasingly important priority for this modern generation of workers, and employers need to start investing in benefits and initiatives that address employees' social and personal lives to support their overall social health and well-being," the spokesperson said in a statement.
"We are looking forward to working with progressive companies in the region looking to provide enhanced support for employees in finding and making meaningful personal connections."
Social isolation, loneliness
The new benefit comes amid widespread feelings of social isolation and loneliness across the world. According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated one in four older people experience isolation and between five and 15% of adolescents experience loneliness.
Haider Amir, Director, Asia at TELUS Health, previously warned that loneliness is a "global threat" to mental health and wellbeing.
"When workers experience isolation and loneliness, the effects ripple through the workplace," Amir said in a statement. "Without reliable connections and a supportive environment where individuals can authentically express themselves, challenges inevitably arise."
