THE WHAT? Zalando has gifted all staff an additional five days of paid annual leave in recognition of their hard work over the course of the pandemic, according to a report published by Reuters.

THE DETAILS The e-commerce platform’s 14,500 employees will take a ‘collective break’ from August 2 to August 6 – with staff in key roles keeping the business running in their absence. Those working during this period will be entitled to take their five days at a different time.

THE WHY? With e-commerce booming during the pandemic, staff have shouldered an additional workload, often under difficult circumstances as child care was cancelled and homeworking became mandatory. With first quarter sales up 47 percent on the equivalent period last year, Zalando can well afford to give staff a well-earned break.