KT&G(CEO: Mr. Bok-in Baek) introduced ‘ask for leave whenever you want’ campaign for vacation-friendly corporate culture. The company promotes employees to take all the paid annual holidays for the best work-life balance so they may contribute to youth employment by reducing working hours.

KT&G recently removed the ‘reason for leave’ section on leave request form which makes employees become self-conscious. The company was the first major firm which followed ‘remove the reason for leave section’ campaign led by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. KT&G even got rid of approval process of annual leave request for self-regulating vacation culture by each individual.

KT&G also provides a unique vacation support system. For sales persons who need substitute sales force, ‘relief agent system’ provides professional alternatives on a regular basis.

Through ‘refresh vacation’ given every 5th year, employees may enjoy three consecutive weeks of vacation with 7 days of special leave right after 8 days of annual leave. 99% of employees have enjoyed this long vacation since the introduction of the system.

In order to boost domestic demand, KT&G activates domestic travel. Local staff members of 123 branches nationwide run ‘Korea Travel Guide’ to introduce tour course recommendation and culinary hot-spots on intranet. In-house broadcasting also regularly delivers programs including cultural event update and local festivals.

Last year, KT&G management and labor came to an agreement to increase youth employment by reducing working hours from vacation and leave of absence. In 2016, 123 full-time jobs were newly given thanks to the efforts.

Jung-hoon Lee, head of Open Culture Division, said “Healthy homes are the prop for healthy corporation. Vacation promotion both improved employee satisfaction and increased youth employment.”