The Dongpo Paper company in Guangdong province, China, has stirred controversy by abandoning its traditional year-end performance-based bonus in favour of a fitness-oriented rewards system. 

The company’s new policy links the monthly bonus to the physical activity of its employees, aiming to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Under the innovative scheme, employees can earn a full monthly bonus by running 50km, with proportional bonuses for lower distances. Running 40km merits a 60% bonus, and 30km earns a 30% bonus. 

Those achieving 100km receive an additional 30%. The policy also considers mountain hiking and speed walking, contributing 60% and 30%, respectively, to the total exercise requirement. The distances are tracked through apps on employees’ phones.

Lin Zhiyong, the company’s CEO, defended the initiative, stating, “A company can last long when its employees are healthy.” Lin, who has summited Mount Everest twice, emphasised his commitment to encouraging sports and fitness among employees over the past three years.

The company’s official WeChat account reported that most employees qualify for the full bonus, indicating widespread participation in the fitness program. Employees expressed approval, noting that the new bonus scheme allows them to “get both health and money.”

Online reactions to the policy were mixed. While some applauded the company’s efforts to promote fitness, others raised concerns about considering existing health conditions or issues among employees.

Suggestions were made for adding a bonus for employees engaging in exercise, rather than using the existing bonus as a bargaining chip.

This move by Dongpo Paper echoes a similar approach taken in 2019 by the canteen of the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication. The institute encouraged students to work out by offering free crayfish shares for those walking over 10,000 steps a day and half-price shares for those surpassing 5,000 steps a day, resulting in an enthusiastic response from students.