'Break-up leaves' and 'date allowance', among work benefits offered by ad agency

A Pasig City advertising agency lets their employees take a leave off work to get over a break-up—and pays for their dates and wedding receptions, too.

"IdeaXMachina" (IXM) offers these incentives in exchange for its workers' everyday toils.

"People spend a lot of time with advertising [agencies] at the expense of sleep, the expense of family, at the expense of health, and expense of love," IXM CEO Clemente Domingo told Dano Tingcunco on Wednesday evening on a report for Saksi.

And so Domingo decided it will accept a break-up as a legit reason for an employee to take a leave of absence.

"I stayed at home, I bought myself a few beers, but, yeah, I think that helped a lot," shared an art director who availed of the benefit.

"You need that break to be able to produce good work," said another.

Meanwhile, single employees could claim a 'dating allowance' worth P1,500, six times a year. The agency also pays for their employees' subscription to mobile dating apps.

IXM also sheds up to P150,000 for the reception of an employee's wedding.

"It is what you experience in life that makes you become more creative, and so, it makes a lot of business sense to almost require people to go out," the CEO told Tingcungco.

IXM disregarded the concept of 'over-time' and instead encouraged employees to be out on the field for inspiration.

 

"Baka mas maganda na i-incentivize natin, i-encourage natin yung life outside of the work," Domingo added. — Claire Layug/LA, GMA News