CEO who gives employees $2,000 for vacations reveals why it's a brilliant idea for everyone

Various companies provide their workers with paid time off but it is rare to see a company paying extra bucks to encourage their employees to go out on a vacation. However, getting paid a fixed amount for enjoying vacations has been a norm for employees at SteelHouse since 2011. According to The Independent, the CEO of the company, Mark Douglas, has introduced two transformative policies in the company since 2011 and it has bore him positive results.

The marketing and advertising company provides its employees with an additional $2,000 per year to spend on a vacation of their choice. The company also takes a three-day-long weekend every month and Douglas calls it the "SteelHouse Days." These two policies have boosted the morale of his employees and helped recruit an ideal and talented workforce to shape the lower levels of the company. Douglas shared a few reasons why he believes these company policies were so successful.

"I think it's important that everyone be able to essentially really, truly leave work," Douglas told the outlet. While taking these much-needed vacations, co-workers in the company end up forging close friendships with one another and display better productivity in the office. In SteelHouse, people are not only working but also spending quality time leisurely. Along with the vacation fund, employees at this company get five extra days off each year to compensate for each month that does not come with a three-day weekend.

"Many people use a portion of the $2,000 to take trips on those SteelHouse days," Douglas revealed. When employees return from their vacations, they are more refreshed and enthusiastic about their jobs. These policies also encourage teamwork among staff members from various levels. "SteelHouse Days aren't like normal federal holidays or paid time off," Douglas mentioned. When the entire company goes on a break, no one is obligated to turn on their devices and connect to any team member. "People seem to recognize how unusual their benefits are and reciprocate loyalty in their work ethic," Douglas explained. "Everyone works pretty hard but I think they feel like there's a give and take."

The vacations that the employees of SteelHouse take are much different than business trips. Business trips might feel like vacations at first but people get overwhelmed with work soon after. The company policies of SteelHouse ensure that doesn't happen for their vacationing employees. According to the news outlet, Douglas finds countless people on LinkedIn waiting for an opportunity to work for SteelHouse because of these popular policies. "We want people who feel like they can choose their job," Douglas said. "Not find a job but they feel like they can work anywhere they want."

With all these positive approaches, the clients of SteelHouse reportedly love doing business with the company and are impressed with the fact that they care for their employees. "Even if it's inconvenient the company is inactive on a random Friday in April, the goodwill SteelHouse earns tends to matter more," Douglas revealed. "We actually get comments from our customers not like, 'Wow, you're going to be closed next Friday? That sucks.' It's quite the opposite."