Rethinking 'Unlimited' Leave When We Saw the Burnout Data"
Crisis Management
by HR Head, VC firmThe Narrative
We introduced an 'unlimited' leave policy, but our quarterly wellness surveys showed burnout was actually increasing. Employees felt guilty taking time off without a set number of days. We switched to a mandatory 20-day leave policy, plus a company-wide week off in December. Productivity and employee satisfaction have both gone up."
Data-Driven Perspective
This is a common paradox. Our platform data from over 50 startups shows that companies with 'unlimited' leave have employees taking, on average, 4 fewer days off per year than those with generous but defined leave policies. The data suggests that clear guardrails and company-mandated time-off are more effective at preventing burnout."