YOLO Day

At SSW, we believe in the power of extraordinary experiences. We understand that our team works tirelessly, and we want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to live life to the fullest, and not get stuck in a rut. That's why we introduced YOLO (You Only Live Once) days.

YOLO days are an exclusive benefit for our dedicated staff who have been with us for at least 12 months. This benefit is not available to SSW contractors and part-time employees.

What is a YOLO Day?

A YOLO day is an additional day of paid leave each financial year designed to inspire you to do something remarkable, something you wouldn't normally do.

This day doesn't accrue and isn't paid out - it's there for you to seize the moment and make unforgettable memories.

Figure: SSW'ers having fun on their YOLO day 🤘

✅ What qualifies as a YOLO Day?

A YOLO day should be a leap out of your comfort zone, an adventure that pushes your boundaries. Something that you have not done, that you’ve always wanted to.

Here are some examples in different categories to inspire you:

• Physical activities

  • Go paragliding or parachuting to overcome your fear of heights
  • Surfing that you have not done since a teenager e.g. 20 years ago
  • A goal that requires a program of training, such as an obstacle course or marathon

• Personally significant activities

  • Going on a trip with old friends you haven't seen in a long time
  • Achieving a personal goal, like writing a book or creating a piece of art
  • Reconnecting with a hobby or activity you loved in your youth but haven't done in years
  • Attending a cultural festival or event in a city you've never visited

• Educational activities:

  • Taking a one-day course in a subject you know nothing about.
  • Attending a workshop or seminar in a field of interest.

❌ What does not qualify as a YOLO Day?

Not all activities qualify for a YOLO day. The aim is to get you to expand your horizons or push yourself. Here are some examples of what doesn't count:

• Repeating an activity you did recently, like mountain biking a year ago.

• Something you already do regularly. There would need to be a twist to show you're pushing yourself further than usual.

  • If you're a diver... try diving with sharks
  • If you're a drive-in camper, try hiking into a camp site, etc.
  • If you usually go skiing, try snowboarding or cross country skiing

• Anything too similar to your usual every day life, like coding in a new language - remember, this day is about living, not working!

• Anything to do with general life administration

• Events centred around alcohol

Requesting your YOLO Day

1. To request your YOLO day, follow the same steps as Annual Leave and send an appointment using Outlook Calendar | New Meeting | Content Chooser | All Staff Email Templates | Select YOLO-day-request

Ensure the "Teams meeting" toggle is set in the "off" position.

Sharing your YOLO Day

We would love to make a memorable video with your adventures ⭐

1. Take a look at YOLO Day Video Guidelines for tips on how to best capture your experience so you can share it with the team.

2. Send an email using Outlook | New Email | Content Chooser | All Staff Email Templates | Select YOLO-day-sharing-experience

3. Include videos (preferred) or photos. If you have shared it on Facebook, include the link in your email so we can "like" it.