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Delhi firm gives 9-day Diwali break to all employees: ‘Switch off from email, master art of sleeping’

Employees at a Delhi firm, from seniors to interns, were surprised to receive a special Diwali gift: leave for nine days.

Updated on: Oct 11, 2025, 13:55:31 IST
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In a time when strict return-to-office mandates and corporate burnout dominate headlines, one company’s new standard for workplace empathy has won the hearts of its employees. The founder and CEO of a Delhi-based PR firm sent a company-wide email informing everyone about a nine-day-long break for Diwali.

Rajat Grover, founder and CEO of a Delhi-based firm, gave his employees a nine-day break for Diwali. (LinkedIn/Rajat Grover)
Rajat Grover, founder and CEO of a Delhi-based firm, gave his employees a nine-day break for Diwali. (LinkedIn/Rajat Grover)

Expressing happiness at receiving this unexpected gift, an employee of Elite Marque wrote on LinkedIn, “People talk a lot about the workplace and work culture. A genuine workplace culture is characterised by an employer who consistently places the needs and well-being of their employees at the forefront, recognising that a thriving workforce is the foundation for organisational success and innovation.”

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She then expressed how the firm gave employees time off to celebrate the festival with their families. The employee further expressed appreciation for the firm’s founder and CEO, Rajat Grover.

“Being employed at an organisation that genuinely values and promotes employee well-being is a true privilege.”

What did the founder say?

In a wittily written email, he asked the employees to enjoy the nine-day break completely and avoid their official emails. The CEO’s lighthearted yet deeply empathetic approach encouraged employees to rest, share late-night laughter with family, and eat lots of sweets.

Take a look at the entire post here:

“Even the HR team, who normally sends such updates, was caught by surprise. Every employee, from new joinees to senior leaders, received it as a delightful gift, a simple yet powerful reminder of what a genuinely employee-first culture looks like,” a company spokesperson told HT.com in an email.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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