This photo, from Sept. 14, 2020, shows office workers out for lunch in the central Seoul ward of Jongno. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — With the increasing number of single-person households choosing not to get married, South Korean companies are diversifying in terms of their welfare policies.
Lotte Department Store in September began offering congratulatory or consolation subsidies to employees who are single. Any employee who is single and over 40 years of age can enjoy the same benefits as employees who get married by applying for the subsidies.
Single employees will be offered congratulatory bonuses and five days of paid leave. They will also receive plants instead of wreaths used for marriage ceremonies.
Lush Korea, a South Korean unit of British cosmetics retailer Lush Retail Ltd., has already been offering a 10-day leave and congratulatory bonuses since 2017 to any employee declaring that they will stay single.
The company also gives out 50,000 won in subsidies each month to all single employees rearing a pet.
The pets are recognized as family members and are given rearing subsidies, which is a benefit commonly enjoyed by married employees with children.
Since last year, Shinhan Bank has been giving out a bonus of 100,000 won (US$74), originally intended for wedding anniversaries, to employees who are single.
Free health examinations normally given out to “the employee and his/her spouse,” are now offered to “the employee and his/her family member.”
Woori Bank and KB Kookmin Bank, which offer free health examinations for employees and their spouses, also allows single employees to share free health checkup opportunities with one of their parents.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
