Golfzon's Family-Friendly Policies Enhance Work-Life Balance

On April 20, at Golfzon, a screen golf company located in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, employees and their children waved goodbye with smiles as they prepared for the weekend. Established in 2017, Golfzon's on-site daycare allows all employees to enroll their children if they wish. As the clock struck 5 PM, the elevators buzzed with employees heading home, and noticeable empty desks filled the office. Every month, the company designates the Friday following payday (the 20th) as a paid day off for all staff, encouraging them to spend quality time with their families. Additionally, Golfzon supports employees with up to 1.5 million KRW annually for golf expenses, leading many to enjoy family golf outings once a month, contributing to the lively atmosphere on Thursday evenings.

Founded in 2000, Golfzon not only develops screen golf programs but also operates numerous screen golf facilities nationwide, employing around 550 staff members. From its inception, the company has believed that work-life balance enhances corporate competitiveness, implementing various family-friendly policies.

One notable benefit is the 'G-Marriage Care' program, which provides financial support for wedding expenses, offering up to 6 million KRW based on age to employees preparing for marriage. Park Young-rae, a 41-year-old employee who married four years ago, expressed, "It gives me peace of mind knowing the company supports us during significant expenses."

Post-marriage, the company continues to focus on work-life balance, offering up to 3 million KRW for infertility treatments. Employees who adopt children receive a 5 million KRW incentive, along with an annual scholarship of 2 million KRW for each adopted child from age one until they graduate high school.

For biological children, the company provides a 'birth congratulatory fund' of 400,000 KRW for the first child, 1.1 million KRW for the second, and 5.1 million KRW for the third. Scholarships of 2 million KRW are awarded annually starting from age five for the first child, age three for the second, and age one for the third. Regardless of adoption status, employees' children receive 7 million KRW annually for college until graduation.

Employees with young children particularly appreciate the on-site daycare, which operates until 8 PM. Golfzon established this daycare in 2017, even though it was not mandated. Kang Shin-wook, a 36-year-old father of a three-year-old, noted, "Private daycare centers usually have early pick-up times, creating pressure to finish work by quitting time. The workplace daycare offers more flexibility, which is a huge help for parenting."

If work obligations delay pick-up, the company cafeteria prepares children's meals and trays, allowing parents to dine with their kids before heading home. The daycare's educational programs, including English lessons taught by native speakers, have received high satisfaction ratings. Many employees have transitioned from private daycare to the workplace facility.

Golfzon also implements a flexible working hours system, allowing employees to arrive between 8 AM and 10 AM and complete their eight-hour workday without prior approval for their start time. Jeon Da-hae, a 37-year-old mother of a four-year-old, shared, "During the cold season when kids often get sick, I can take them to the doctor without worrying about strict reporting as long as I arrive before 10 AM."

The family-friendly culture and various benefits have attracted more experienced applicants, with many new hires reporting increased family time since joining Golfzon. The company also offers free golf lessons for employees and their families, with professional instructors available at the on-site facilities. Choi Min-gun, a 46-year-old father of a fifth-grade son and a second-grade daughter, enjoys golfing with his family. After his son took lessons three years ago, they now travel abroad for golf vacations during school breaks. Choi dreams of having his second child join them on the course, fostering family conversations throughout their rounds.

The company’s support has also led to new family hobbies. Kim Kyung-hwan, a 45-year-old father of two elementary school children, now goes camping five to six times a year, thanks to the company’s camping expense support (up to 80,000 KRW per night for two nights annually). His children have grown to love camping, often going more than the supported days. Kim remarked, "Seeing my kids enjoy grilled meat at the campsite makes all my fatigue disappear. The best part is the welfare system that allows us to spend time together as a family."

Golfzon hosts an annual family invitation event, where not only children but also employees' parents are welcomed for a meal together. Employees noted that when urgent matters arise, colleagues often say, "Go ahead, we’ve got this," and team members celebrate those going on parental leave with gifts. A Golfzon representative stated, "The key to corporate growth lies in organizational culture, and we plan to continue supporting our employees' work-life balance."