A notice issued in Henan province has sparked widespread online discussion after urging leading officials to set an example by taking their full annual leave in accordance with the law, promoting a workplace culture of "work efficiently and live happily".
The notice, jointly released by the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Henan Provincial Committee and five other departments, calls on leading officials to demonstrate that employees are entitled to take their full paid annual leave.
It also reiterates that workers who are unable to take leave due to work demands should receive compensation of 300 percent of their daily wage for unused leave.
According to the notice, all employees who have worked continuously for at least 12 months are entitled to paid annual leave regardless of their employment status. Employees with one to 10 years of service receive five days of annual leave, those with 10 to 20 years receive 10 days, and those with more than 20 years of service are entitled to 15 days.
Employers that deliberately prevent workers from taking annual leave, fail to pay compensation or refuse to implement the policy will be ordered to rectify the situation. Those that fail to comply will be recorded in files and publicly disclosed. Trade unions at all levels will continue accepting complaints through the 12351 labor rights hotline.
The topic has attracted nearly 10 million views on Sina Weibo in recent days, with many netizens discussing China's long-standing workplace culture of intense competition and routine overtime.
A 38-year-old grassroots civil servant surnamed Yang in Henan said the policy is well-intentioned but difficult to implement.
"Grassroots offices are already burdened with heavy workloads. Many struggle to guarantee full weekends, let alone annual leave," she said, adding that staffing shortages make it difficult to arrange leave rotations.
Yuan Wenyi, a 26-year-old engineering technician from Henan, welcomed the initiative.
"Many of my friends travel to neighboring provinces during holidays. This policy will expand travel options and encourage more spending on tourism and online shopping," he said.
The initiative encourages employees to combine annual leave with weekends, statutory holidays and school vacations to create three- to seven-day breaks. Eligible employers may also pilot flexible Friday afternoon clock-out arrangements.
Local governments are encouraged to issue consumption vouchers for tourism, catering, accommodation and retail during the off-peak travel seasons from March to April and September to October.
Shen Jianfeng, a professor at the School of Law at Central University of Finance and Economics, said the notice sends a positive signal for protecting workers' rights and promoting a healthier work-life balance.
Although China's paid annual leave system has existed since 2008, implementation remains uneven, he said. Some employers regard annual leave as an unnecessary labor cost, while some employees mistakenly equate skipping vacations with dedication.
"Taking leave benefits both physical and mental health, which in turn improves work efficiency," Shen said, adding that creativity in the digital era depends more on maintaining mental well-being than on extending working hours.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that employees in China's enterprises worked an average of 48.6 hours a week in 2025, equivalent to 8.6 hours of overtime each week.
The policy also aligns with broader national efforts. This year's Government Work Report called for implementing a staggered paid annual leave system, while the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) calls for stronger enforcement of paid leave policies.
Jing Hui, executive president of the School of Management at Zhengzhou University, said the initiative could help stimulate consumption while improving public well-being. By spreading travel demand beyond major holidays, it can ease congestion, improve tourist experiences and support the growth of the tourism industry.
Since the start of this year, Yunnan, Guizhou, Shanxi, Anhui, Tianjin and several other regions have introduced supporting paid leave policies. Hainan province has stressed that rest and vacation are not optional perks but carry equal importance as work responsibilities.
