Extended Unpaid Vacation Time (Public)
Project
Extended Unpaid Vacation Time
Study ID sspp-2026-0015-v1
Study Title Extended Unpaid Vacation Time
Authors Nicholas Bloom, James Liang, Linxi (Cindy) Zeng
Completion Time 5 Minutes
Close Date (UTC) April 30, 2027
Discipline Economics, Management
Field Labor Economics
Country China
Abstract
We are collaborating with Trip.com to evaluate a one-year pilot of a Flexible Personal Leave policy from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027. Under the policy, eligible employees may apply for additional unpaid personal leave without providing a specific justification, subject to satisfactory work handover. Employee benefits will remain unchanged, and leave under the policy will be capped at 45 days per employee per year. Approximately 6,000 Trip.com employees will first be invited to complete a survey measuring interest in the policy. Employees will then be randomized into treatment and control groups based on whether their birthday falls on an odd or even day of the month. The treatment group will be offered access to the Flexible Personal Leave policy during the pilot period. The control group will continue under existing leave policies, including regular company leave and national holidays, without access to the additional unpaid leave option. The study will assess policy take-up and effects on employee and manager perceptions, productivity, promotion, recruitment, retention, and survey-based outcomes, including how take-up and effects vary by demographics, seniority, role, and other employee characteristics.
Study ID sspp-2026-0015-v1
Study Title Extended Unpaid Vacation Time
Authors Nicholas Bloom, James Liang, Linxi (Cindy) Zeng
Completion Time 5 Minutes
Close Date (UTC) April 30, 2027
Discipline Economics, Management
Field Labor Economics
Country China
Abstract
We are collaborating with Trip.com to evaluate a one-year pilot of a Flexible Personal Leave policy from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027. Under the policy, eligible employees may apply for additional unpaid personal leave without providing a specific justification, subject to satisfactory work handover. Employee benefits will remain unchanged, and leave under the policy will be capped at 45 days per employee per year. Approximately 6,000 Trip.com employees will first be invited to complete a survey measuring interest in the policy. Employees will then be randomized into treatment and control groups based on whether their birthday falls on an odd or even day of the month. The treatment group will be offered access to the Flexible Personal Leave policy during the pilot period. The control group will continue under existing leave policies, including regular company leave and national holidays, without access to the additional unpaid leave option. The study will assess policy take-up and effects on employee and manager perceptions, productivity, promotion, recruitment, retention, and survey-based outcomes, including how take-up and effects vary by demographics, seniority, role, and other employee characteristics.
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