With the exception of cheesy romantic lines, no other words can probably elicit so much excitement and rapture among women than the word SALE.
From June 4-7, there will be a big brands sale exclusive to HSBC cardholders for SSI brands in Nuvo City. For those who do not know, SSI (Store Specialists Inc.) is the firm responsible for bringing mid-scale to luxury brands in the country (think Zara, Debenhams, Gap, Bass, Lacoste, Nine West, Ralph Lauren, YSL, Cartier, Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade, Gucci, Bally, etc). Discounts on items will go as high as 70% so my eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Note however, that I don't go for the ritzy, ultra-upscale brands. It's not only because I cannot afford them; I just don't think I can be comfortable spending way too much on single piece of item. My idea of indulgence is just zara, lacoste, debenhams, ralph lauren, gap, and the like.
When I was still a corporate slave in what seems like a lifetime ago, I always hated it when stores hold the first day of the sale on a working day. I was always tempted to take a leave (I think I did on a few occasions when my workload wasn't up to my neck). And now that time is in my hands, I can be the very first person you see eagerly waiting outside the door of the store on day 1 of the sale. The only problem is, I no longer have the money to splurge on shopping. What a cruel, cynical world!
I am reminded of a news article that I read before about a company in Japan that offers "shopping sale" leaves to its employees. The women working in this company no longer have to feign sickness on the day of the sale; they just take a duly authorized leave to shop. I guess this company realized that without a sale leave, the female employees won't be productive anyways, as their minds would be suffering from missing out on all the bargains. Either that or the company will suddenly discover a sudden outbreak of a flu that manifests on the day of the sale and miraculously heals the day after the sale. So, this firm gave what the women wanted: a paid leave to to go shopping; an opportunity for the women to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
This very same company also offers "heartache leaves" to females employees who have just gone through a breakup. This is to give time for women to nurse and lick their wounds, and get themselves together before reporting to work. The older the employee, the longer the heartache leave. The rationale being: younger women have more chances to find a new love compared to older women. Again, this company realized that heartbroken women are nowhere near productive during the first few hours or days following a breakup. This company understood its female employees and the complex dynamics of female behavior.
This Japanese company is very women-friendly. Sale and Heartbreak leaves are almost the equivalent of a maternity leave or a PTA session leave. Women in different stages of the life cycle have different needs and priorities. For the single, upwardly mobile woman, it is fashion (self-indulgence or gratification) and romance. For the married set, it is the family. I may be generalizing a little here, and I am sorry if I stereotyped the single and the married women. I just did a generalization to make a point: Human Resource best practices can be as creative as giving leaves like those I mentioned in the above. It need not be all monetary benefits (although time off from work has financial implications as well). An HR benefit strategy can also be very focused or targeted, meaning providing different benefits for different kinds of employees. The key is to understand your employees and know what ticks for them. Now I wonder if any company offers PMS leaves?
If I were employed in that Japanese firm, I'd be one satisfied employee. Sadly, I am not in Japan and I have chosen the road less travelled by becoming a starving freelance writer. I will still go to the sale tomorrow with my sister in law and just drool over the bargains that I see. I will do my best to restrain from shopping. God help me!
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