Retail giant Patagonia to shut down stores temporarily, offering staff a week of remunerated holiday break.
Patagonia Extends End-of-Year Break for Employees
Patagonia, the 50-year-old outdoor apparel retailer, is once again offering its employees a paid week off at the end of the year. This decision, which has been widely praised on social media, is a testament to the company's commitment to the quality of life for its employees.
In September, Patagonia restructured, transferring ownership of the business to two newly created entities. Yvon Chouinard, the company's founder, transferred 98% of Patagonia's non-voting stock to the Holdfast Collective, an environmental nonprofit, while the remaining 2% went to the Patagonia Purpose Trust.
Last year, Patagonia closed its U.S. and Canadian stores, warehouses, and offices during the week between Christmas and the New Year, giving employees paid time off. This year, the break will extend from December 25 through January 1. The decision to repeat this policy has been announced by Patagonia's CEO, Ryan Gellert, on LinkedIn.
The end-of-year break will not affect Patagonia's customer service operations or its ability to repair clothing. The company operates nearly 40 U.S. stores, and its North American stores, customer service operations, and warehouse will be closed during the break.
The comments on social media suggest that 'time off' is highly valued by employees as a benefit from organizations. Patagonia's end-of-year break policy is unique in the retail industry, according to these comments.
Patagonia sells more than $1 billion in merchandise annually and operates approximately 70 stores worldwide, including locations in the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Chile, Argentina, and more.
In a statement, Gellert expressed gratitude to the company's employees, nonprofit partners, and customers for their contributions to Patagonia's mission to save the planet. He also assured that employees will return to work on January 2, ready to ship orders and help with exchanges and repairs.
The end-of-year break drew widespread praise on LinkedIn, with comments highlighting its value as a benefit for employees. Patagonia's decision to provide a week off has been widely praised as a demonstration of the company's commitment to the quality of life for its employees.
