Stuck at work on Diwali? Firms offer employees longer breaks, better gifts and extra earnings

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Stuck at a desk while the rest of the world is busy celebrating may not be the ideal Diwali plan. However, companies are rolling out a range of festive perks to make sure their employees don’t miss out on the celebrations.From longer weekends and work-from-home options to gifts of their choice and office festivities, employers are finding different ways to make the festival special for their workforce.And for those who have to work while others celebrate, there are extra payouts and special treats to sweeten the deal.

Gifts employees actually want

For employees at quick-commerce firm Zepto, the festive break has come a day earlier than scheduled. The company advanced its holiday from Tuesday to Monday, giving its workforce an additional day off after Diwali.“We want our people to enjoy the festive season with their families by giving them a longer weekend to celebrate,” Sneha Arora, chief HR officer at the Bengaluru-headquartered firm told ET.At Hitachi India, employees had the opportunity to decide what they wanted as their festive gifts. The diversified manufacturer asked them to vote from a list of options, with air fryers and Amazon gift vouchers emerging as popular choices.Festive celebrations at the company also extended beyond gifts. Hitachi India hosted gatherings at hotels across the country, bringing together its Indian and Japanese employees, including senior leadership, said chief human resources officer Ashutosh Anshu.

WFH for those traveling home

For employees planning to travel during Diwali, flexibility over where they work has also become part of the festive arrangements.Hitachi India’s hybrid work policy allows employees to work from home for two days a week. This gives them room to manage festive travel and personal commitments, Anshu said.Aditya Mishra, chief executive at staffing and recruitment services firm CIEL HR Services, said greater flexibility in how employees celebrate has been a noticeable trend this festive season.Companies are extending work-from-home options wherever the nature of the job allows it, particularly for employees who want to travel to their hometowns but continue working.“more work-from-home options are given wherever the nature of the role permits, to help employees who wish to travel to their hometowns and continue working”, he said.

When the festive spirit has to reach the workplace

Not everyone gets to switch off during Diwali. Employees working in housekeeping, security, office support, electrical and maintenance roles may still need to keep offices functioning during the celebrations.Proptech firm NoBroker.com is organising special festivities for these teams, along with a role-reversal exercise involving its HR department.Under the initiative, HR employees will take on the responsibilities usually handled by support staff for a few hours. This includes staffing office floors, managing security and ensuring that operations continue, allowing the employees in these roles to participate in the celebrations.“For those few hours, our HR team steps into their shoes, staffing the floors, managing security and keeping the offices running, so that not a single person has to miss the festivities,” said chief executive Amit Kumar Agarwal.

Diwali duty comes with extra earnings

For employees whose work involves being on the road, festive celebrations are also taking the form of additional financial incentives.Trev Mobility, an electric vehicles-focused cab-hailing service, has introduced a special incentive programme for its driver-partners working during Diwali, according to ET. The additional payouts will be over and above their regular earnings for working on designated festive days, said founder Naveen Gupta.The amount drivers can earn will depend on how many days they choose to work. Those available for just one or two days can also qualify for additional earnings, while driver-partners who complete all four designated days of duty, including Diwali, will be eligible for a significantly enhanced payout.Under the programme, those completing all four days will receive double payment, Gupta said.“The incentive is structured around the number of days they choose to work, so even those available for one or two days can earn extra. Those who complete all four designated days of duty, including Diwali, are eligible for a significantly enhanced payout, with double payment under the programme,” he added.