Not Happy, don't come to work: Should India try Chinese firm's unhappy leave policy?

Sharing the example on X, Goenka drew attention to the policy adopted by Chinese retailer Pang Dong Lai and questioned whether Indian companies should have a similar approach.Can employees simply take a day off because they are feeling unhappy? The idea may sound unusual, but it has started a fresh conversation on workplace well-being after RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka highlighted a unique leave policy followed by a Chinese retail company.Goenka's post on social media has reignited the debate on whether workplaces should do more to prevent burnout instead of expecting employees to work through emotional stress.Sharing the example on X, Goenka drew attention to the policy adopted by Chinese retailer Pang Dong Lai and questioned whether Indian companies should have a similar approach.He wrote, "Chinese retailer Pang Dong Lai gives employees 10 days of paid 'unhappy leave.' Founder Yu Donglai's philosophy is simple: 'If you're not happy, don't come to work.' Managers are reportedly not allowed to refuse the request. Extreme? Perhaps." Goenka added, "We do need a broader conversation if 'unhappy leave' is needed in the Indian context. Or is there a better way to prevent burnout and create workplaces where people genuinely want to come to work."His post has sparked discussions on work-life balance, mental health and whether companies should rethink traditional leave policies.WHAT IS 'UNHAPPY LEAVE'? The concept comes from Pang Dong Lai, a retail chain based in China's Henan province.During the 2024 China Supermarket Week, the company's founder and chairman, Yu Donglai, announced that employees would be entitled to additional paid leave if they were not mentally or emotionally well, reported The Economic Times.According to a report by the South China Morning Post, Yu Donglai believes employees should not feel forced to work when they are unhappy, the report mentioned.His message was simple: if employees are not happy, they do not have to come to work.MANAGERS CANNOT REJECT THE REQUESTOne of the most striking parts of the policy is that managers are reportedly not allowed to deny an employee's request for 'unhappy leave'.The idea behind the policy is to recognise that emotional well-being is just as important as physical health. Instead of expecting employees to work despite feeling mentally exhausted, the company allows them to take time off and return when they feel better.A WIDER CONVERSATION ON WORKPLACE WELL-BEINGGoenka's remarks have brought the discussion beyond China, with many people asking whether such a policy could work in India.The conversation is not only about introducing a new category of leave but also about creating workplaces where employees feel valued, supported and less likely to experience burnout.Whether 'unhappy leave' becomes a reality in India or not, the idea has certainly reignited the conversation on mental health, employee well-being and what truly makes a workplace healthy.- EndsPublished By: Jasmine anandPublished On: Aug 7, 2026 20:09 IST