Manulife Financial and its subsidiary John Hancock are giving their more than 35,000 employees a day off on Friday to say thank you for all the hard word they’ve done.
The companies will also be providing five additional personal days next year to each employee to support their well-being by encouraging regular time off and will provide the opportunity for employees to take vacations, which they may not have been able to do in the current environment.
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“I am so proud and grateful for the commitment our people have shown — it’s taken energy and incredible stamina,” said Roy Gori, Manulife’s chief executive officer, in a press release. “While many communities begin the process of reopening, it’s safe to assume that things won’t be returning to what we thought was ‘normal’ for some time. So we will all need to continue to take care of ourselves and practice healthy habits, which include unplugging and taking time to unwind. We’ll be getting that done together, as a global team, on Friday, June 19 this year.”
The insurers have also taken a range of actions to support the well-being of their employees and their families in response to the challenges they face due to the coronavirus pandemic. These include flexible working arrangements, supplemental paid time off and additional virtual mental-health resources.
Read: Supporting employees’ workplace health, financial wellness during coronavirus