Pang Donglai employees refuse to accept salary cuts in exchange for days off, workers say: higher salary is way better than extra days off!

Recently, the 2026 National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference are actively discussing “standardizing working hours” and “ensuring paid leave.” Everyone is talking about how to rest more and work less overtime. At this time, Henan-based good company Pang Donglai released an internal survey result on March 8, which quickly went viral online and sparked widespread discussion.

This survey was conducted among over 10,000 employees of Pang Donglai, focusing on a single question: Are you willing to “accept a pay cut for more vacation days” or prefer to “maintain the current situation”? The final results were somewhat surprising—up to 82.38% of employees decisively chose to keep things as they are, clearly stating they do not want to earn less just to get a few extra days off.

Some may ask, is this survey reliable? The answer is yes. The survey covered all formal employees across Pang Donglai’s various business sectors, with a questionnaire response rate of nearly 95%. Almost all formal employees participated, making the results highly representative.

The survey also included several options for reducing pay in exchange for more leave, such as earning a little less monthly or gaining a few extra days of annual leave. However, the vast majority of employees were not swayed by the idea of “more time off” and instead focused on maintaining their current income and rest arrangements.

This is understandable when you look at the benefits Pang Donglai employees currently enjoy. Public information shows they work only 7 hours a day, without late-night overtime, and have up to 40 days of annual leave—much more than the statutory national holiday. Data also indicates that over 97% of employees are satisfied with their current leave arrangements, and satisfaction with the 7-hour workday is close to 90%. With such benefits, it’s natural that employees are reluctant to accept a pay cut for extra leave.

Many people think that nowadays everyone is eager to rest more, so Pang Donglai employees’ choices seem counterintuitive. But in fact, this reflects the true mindset of ordinary workers—they’re not against resting, but prefer to preserve their stable income and balanced life over sacrificing earnings for additional days off.

For ordinary people, salary is the foundation for supporting their families—paying rent, mortgage, raising children, caring for the elderly—every penny counts. Since their current rest time is sufficient, there’s no need to risk earning less just to get a few more days off. This isn’t a lack of appreciation for rest, but a rational choice based on existing benefits.

Pang Donglai’s survey also offers a lesson for all companies. Unlike many businesses where policies are dictated solely by management, they fully entrusted employees with the decision-making power through democratic voting, choosing a system that most people are satisfied with. This approach respects individual differences and fosters consensus.

For the 17.62% of employees who prefer a pay cut for more leave, Pang Donglai clearly states they will respect their choice. The company will continue to optimize policies and provide guidance to help everyone achieve a healthier work-life balance.

In the current societal context where paid leave and standardized working hours are being promoted, Pang Donglai’s case is particularly meaningful. It shows us that protecting workers’ rights isn’t about exchanging wages for leave, but about making rest a fundamental benefit everyone should enjoy.

When a company truly cares about its employees—offering reasonable working hours, adequate wages, and sufficient leave—employees will work diligently and genuinely identify with the company. The over 80% employee support for this decision reflects contentment with their current lives, recognizes Pang Donglai’s good treatment of staff, and sets an example for other companies. It provides a valuable reference for building harmonious labor relations.

(Writer: Human Observer)