In a move considered one of the most distinctive workplace perks of the year, a major company has introduced a novel benefit for pet-owning employees.
NTES, the parent company of the lifestyle brand Yanxuan, has officially established a "paid pet care leave" policy. Under this new rule, employees receive two dedicated days of paid leave each year to attend to their pets' health-related needs. The announcement was made via the brand's official social media channel on August 25th.
This initiative marks the first instance in China's internet industry where a leading enterprise has incorporated pet care into its paid time-off system. The policy emerged from an internal employee survey conducted by Yanxuan, which revealed that over 80% of its staff own pets. Furthermore, half of these pet owners have experienced situations requiring them to care for a sick animal. Previously, two-thirds of these employees had to use their annual leave for such purposes, often needing to carefully justify their absence.
The internal communication regarding this policy emphasizes that pets are considered family members who live alongside their owners. Consequently, employees can now directly request time off when their pets require care due to health issues. This benefit extends the company's existing paid health care leave, which was previously reserved for attending to oneself, parents, spouses, or children, to now officially include furry companions.
Industry analysts interpret this move as a strategic effort by NTES to deepen its presence in the rapidly expanding pet economy. The pet industry is currently experiencing significant market growth, with food representing the primary consumer segment. According to the "2026 China Pet Industry White Paper," the consumer market size for urban pets (dogs and cats) reached 312.6 billion yuan in 2025, a 4.1% increase from 2024, with projections indicating it will hit 405 billion yuan by 2028.
Beyond serving as an employee benefit, the pet care leave policy is viewed as a reflection of the team's dedication and empathy towards the pet sector. By integrating internal welfare programs with external brand positioning, NTES is demonstrating a new approach for domestic brands to win consumer loyalty. Yanxuan, a self-operated lifestyle home brand under NTES since its establishment in April 2016, has been cultivating the pet industry for nearly a decade. Despite a 3.5% year-on-year decline in net revenue during the second quarter, the brand's pet products category continues to hold a leading position on major e-commerce platforms.
The new leave policy has garnered praise from many netizens, though some have pointed out potential priorities, suggesting that companies should instead focus on implementing parental care leave. The discussion continues to generate widespread public interest and debate online.