Mikro+Polo, the Maribor-based lab equipment supplier, offers a number of benefits to its employees, including unlimited paid leave. Ten years on, they find that on average, employees take two more days of leave per year than they would be entitled to under the law.

General manager Marko Podgornik Verdev says it depends on the age how much leave their employees take. "The younger ones take up to ten days more per year and the older ones up to ten days fewer," he told the Slovenian Press Agency (STA).

He finds the measure has proved to be a success, as employees do not take advantage of it at the expense of the company. "Personally, I believe that working people are adults who are well aware that money is earned at work, not on holidays."

The staff accept unlimited paid leave with full responsibility. "At the same time, we have a rule that leave is approved by the person who will substitute for you during your absence and, by approving it, takes responsibility for your work while you are away."

Podgornik Verdev believes the measure has further increased the sense of belonging to the company and the sense of responsibility. Their experience shows that such freedom and flexibility lead to higher productivity and a better work-life balance.

"Ten years ago, I had three young kids myself and it was more than clear to me that young families do not get enough leave," he explained.

As far as he knows they the only company in Slovenia with unlimited paid leave. It is difficult to find accurate data, but the recruitment agency Adecco agrees that there are not many employers in Slovenia that offer their employees such a benefit.

"This practice is more widespread in some other countries. In Slovenia, most employers stick to the statutory minimum number of days of leave, which is at least 20 days per year for regular employees," Adecco told STA.

Mikro+Polo's working arrangements are in general above standard applied in most Slovenian companies, having 37-hour work week and 45-minute lunch breaks. Their employees also enjoy other perks such as free breakfast, fresh fruit, fitness and dance classes, an annual trip and sports days.

They can bring their children and pets to work. Together with the Maribor Animal Rights Association they have recently published a free handbook with guidance for introducing dogs to the workplace.

Podgornik Verdev believes in such measures. He is convinced that work should adapt to private life, rather than the other way around. "Otherwise, life loses its meaning," he says.

Different measures work for different people. "For someone with young children, it means a lot to be able to work from home, to have shorter working hours and that their child is not the last one in kindergarten waiting for a parent to pick them up. For others, a healthy lifestyle means a lot."

Podgornik Verdev believes every entrepreneur should think about people doing business. "For me, those who do not invest in people are not real entrepreneurs. The state should meanwhile look for best practice when adopting unpractical laws, of which there are enough in Slovenia, and adapt legislation to those who go beyond the established practice."

Mikro+Polo is Slovenia's largest supplier of laboratories, with its lab furniture used by some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. The company currently employs 150 people in Slovenia, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Germany.