Trip.com Group is celebrating the first anniversary of its successful childcare subsidy program, a testament to the company’s commitment to supporting its global employees and fostering a family-friendly work environment. This program provides an annual cash bonus of RMB 10,000 for each newborn child to employees who have been with the company for three years or more. The benefit extends from the child’s first birthday until they turn five, offering continuous support for working families.
Since its inception in July 2023, the childcare subsidy has positively impacted 541 employees worldwide, offering them financial flexibility to allocate the funds according to their needs. Peter Song, a market manager based in Korea, shared his appreciation for the support, stating that his family plans to use it for essential items like milk powder and diapers.
Other employees, such as Isla Fang, a senior financial analyst in China, who discovered her pregnancy in November 2023, expressed that the funds would support her child’s education. Fang emphasized the importance of providing her children with a happy and relaxed learning environment through collective activities, highlighting the program’s role in providing both financial and time-related support.
Beyond the financial assistance, employees have also expressed a profound sense of happiness and relief from the emotional support fostered by a company culture that values wellness and work-life balance. Selviana Fortunella Santoso, a market executive in Indonesia, described the program as a “miraculous moment” when she discovered she would receive childcare subsidies while five months pregnant. Santoso also praised the company’s family-friendly policies, including insurance coverage and maternity leave, which significantly contributed to her happiness.
Xinqi Du, a market executive in Japan, emphasized the company’s family-friendly environment, highlighting the option to bring children to the workplace after school and the support she receives from supervisors and colleagues who understand the challenges of working parents.
Trip.com Group’s commitment to employee well-being extends beyond the childcare program. In recent years, the company has introduced several family-friendly initiatives, including hybrid work options, comprehensive insurance coverage for spouses and children, and benefits supporting assisted reproduction, such as egg freezing.
The company successfully implemented hybrid working in March 2022, becoming a pioneering internet company in China to adopt this flexible work model. Initially launched in China, the policy has expanded globally across selected business units, allowing employees the flexibility to work remotely on designated days of the week. This initiative aims to enhance employee satisfaction, foster work-life balance, and alleviate urban traffic congestion, reflecting Trip.com Group’s dedication to supporting both professional and personal well-being.
While remote work has become commonplace worldwide, debates regarding the impact of hybrid models on productivity, innovation, and career advancement persist. However, research from a six-month randomized control trial involving 1,612 Trip.com Group employees from 2021 to 2022 indicates that hybrid work enhances job satisfaction and overall quality of life. Particularly well-received among female employees and those facing long commutes, hybrid work showed no adverse effects on performance evaluations or promotion rates over the subsequent two years across employee demographics.
Looking ahead, Trip.com Group remains committed to exploring new avenues for supporting employee wellness, aiding in family planning, and championing inclusive initiatives that benefit working families.
