Bright ideas to cure the workplace blues

There are a number of green pot plants at the offices of Richform Holdings. According to a recent report, foliage in the office increases productivity. The people who work here aren't called employees, they're called associates, in a harmonious partnership with their associate or boss Jimmy Lau Fu-shing.

When Lau, 55, joined Richform, which distributes the Everpure Drinking Water System in Hong Kong and Macau, he brought his corporate social responsibility ideals with him - and they go far beyond the plants.

Lau provides paternity leave, which is ahead of the legislative curve in this city. Staff members can have "flexible birthdays", meaning they can choose whether to celebrate on the day or have another day off around that time. There's a birthday allowance, also a hot weather allowance. Outdoor staff all get an outdoor allowance. There are yoga sessions, and a masseuse comes in regularly to provide neck and head massages.

"I also give an allowance to those who think up good ideas on improvement, for example how to improve efficiency," Lau says.

Lau also gives 5 per cent of the profits to good causes. It's also good business practice, or a win-win situation, he says. With happy staff members there is less turnover and more productivity.

"We also have a committee for volunteer work; this month we will all be visiting a home for the elderly. Older people like to talk about their life experiences and our associates can learn a lot from the elderly."

Lunch hours at Richform are 30 minutes longer, so staff can do banking and other errands without having to rush lunch. Lau uses the title doctor and is a Chinese medicine practitioner, a knowledge and practice he passes on to others in the firm.