Workplaces In China Offer 'Dating Leave' To Single Female Employees Aged 30 And Over

Dec 21, 2019

In a surprising twist that absolutely no one saw coming, the next feminist hot-spot for progressive employment opportunities might just be Zhejiang, China. Currently, a major regional initiative is being launched to give single women over the age of 30 extra time off for the sole purpose of finding love.

These revolutionary efforts were recently announced by Hangzhou Songcheng Performance and Hangzhou Songcheng Tourism Management, reports South China Morning Post. The two corporate entities based their decision on a similar program unveiled for teachers at Dinglan Experimental Middle School. Here's why it's such a transformative idea.

Based on long-standing cultural traditions, girls in China have always been expected to marry at a young age. To this day, unmarried ladies in their late twenties and beyond have been regarded as supremely unfavorable. There is even a derogatory term for women who remain unwed beyond 30-years-old: they are deemed "Leftover Women," reports Entrepreneur.

Because marriage rates have been rapidly declining since 2013, innovative top-down approaches have been implemented to encourage coupling. Thus, concepts like "8-Day Love Leave" are born.

It's ironic that this neoteric practice is originating from two hospitality enterprises that pride themselves on being able to realistically reproduce scenes from ancient history. All Hangzhou Songcheng affiliates are connected to West Lake's premier tourist destination, Song Dynasty Town, which is the iconic replica of a 1,000-year-old Chinese village.

Visitors are treated to a unique experience that recaptures the quaint joys of pre-industrial living. All accommodations meet 10th century standards, and the only garb provided is comprised of antiquated traditional robes, reports South China Morning Post.

For workers to be granted an additional eight days of leave under this policy, they need to meet four specifications, reports the Telegraph. First, they have to be biologically female. Next, they must be unmarried. Third, they need to verify their age. Lastly, they cannot presently be performing in any front-line capacity, because the contributions of these specialized employees are irreplaceable. As a side note, there is no word regarding maternity leave or any larger scale provisions.

From a cynical perspective, it looks like these two brands are merely complicit in a larger PR scheme to create the facade of forward-thinking business practices. Sadly, it appears that their feminist endeavors are rooted in archaic patriarchal ideologies.

Still, they have a point – perhaps we should all be fighting for a society that naturally enshrines enough time off to form relationships in the first place. More importantly, we should collectively accept that some people prefer to stay single, and these individuals can independently live fulfilling lives without anyone else.

What do you think about the 'Dating Leave' policy? Would you like to have extra days off to find love? Let us know in the comments section.