'Fun management' behind election bonus

Shin Chang-yeon

By Lee Hyo-sik

“Work has to be fun.” This is the management philosophy of Tour Baksa CEO Shin Chang-yeon who organized a unique and immensely popular event for his employees for every national election over the past few years. Shin offers a special bonus to all company workers if everyone casts a ballot on election days.

“I have lived by simple codes of live fun and work fun. I wanted to share this with my 200 employees, 85 percent of whom are in their 20s and 30s. Awarding them cash when all of them vote was one of many ideas to spread my fun management style,” he said.

The mid-sized travel agency introduced a promotion system in 2003 under which senior managers and executives were selected through employee votes.

``We adopted the rather unusual scheme in order to boost staff loyalty and increase the importance of casting ballets in national elections. But I found that many were not interested,’’ the CEO said.

Against such a backdrop, Shin came up with an idea of giving a special bonus if all employees voted. ``I always thought that casting ballots is a constitutional obligation for all members of Korean society. The cash bonus was also designed to make Tour Baksa a fun place to work and boost morale.’’

On Dec. 24, Shin paid 200 employees 500,000 won ($472) each in a special bonus, totaling 100 million won, as they all voted in the Dec. 19 presidential election.

To achieve the mission, even workers stationed in Vietnam and other foreign countries drove for as many as 10 hours to cast their ballots at overseas missions.

All employees had to take photos of themselves in front of polling stations as proof.

It was not the first time Shin has offered workers cash incentives for voting. Following the Oct. 26 by-elections in 2011, the CEO provided 50,000 won to each staff member.

But his employees did not believe in the cash-for-votes deal in 2010 and many did not go to the polls. As a result, nobody received the bonus.

``When we paid people the 500,000 won on Christmas Eve, everyone was so happy. I believe things have to be fun and stress free for workers to achieve both professional and personal goals. When work is fun, employee productivity and loyalty goes up,’’ Shin said.

The CEO said he will continue to give out special bonuses in future elections.