Single and childless teachers of a middle school in Hangzhou, Zhejiang in China are in for a treat: apart from their annual paid leave, they are now also entitled to two half-days of “love leave.”
The “love leave” was introduced just last Jan. 15 by the Dinglan Experimental Middle School to its educators. The perk is a part of the school’s new leave policies, such as the “family leave” — an upgrade from the “single child leave” — and “happiness leave.”
Teachers can avail of the family leave twice a month if they have children under the age of 18, while the happiness leave is for staff whose children are already adults. The love leave, on the other hand, is meant to benefit the unmarried group of teachers in the school, which makes up 40 percent of the teachers’ population, as per Dushi Kuaibao via South China Morning Post on Jan. 16.
“Normally, our teachers work very hard. I hope they will take advantage of this leave twice a month to relax and enjoy life, experience its beauty and spend time with their family,” school principal Zhao was quoted as saying. “I believe that students can only be happy if teachers improve their own happiness.”
The new leave policies come as a benefit to the middle school teachers, who now have a chance at repose after a long, stressful day at work. Ye Jingqi, an unmarried science teacher, shared that she and her boyfriend can take advantage of the love leave and go around the city, as well as visit her parents.
“If my boyfriend has time as well, the best way to take advantage of our leave would be to visit some libraries or bookshops on a work day when they are less busy,” Ye shared in the report. “I could also visit my parents.”
Meanwhile Chen Qing, whose husband is also a teacher in the school, expressed her happiness for her colleagues.
“The leave can cover all the younger teachers and that is a great thing,” Chen told the publication. “I heard single teachers saying that they finally have time to meet their dates at the library.” Cody Cepeda/JB
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