Feeling too good to work days

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One of the ways companies offer incentives to their employees is in the form of time off.  Most companies offer vacation and sick days, with an average of two weeks for vacation and anywhere from 3-10 days per year for sick days. This is in hope to provide employees a work life balance.  I personally believe the standard two weeks is quite short for the balance I like to have.   I think companies should invoke two additional types of days off for employees.  These would help improve moral and the balance between work and life.   I believe that both of these types of days off should be used on the day of via an email to your manager, no scheduling necessary.  However, with the caveat, they can only used if the work activities of that day are not mission critical. 


The first type of day off is the "rejuvenate" day off, I propose this would be an additional one or two days for each employee per year.  This would be a day taken off to be pampered and or get some sort of relaxation treatment.  In order for this to be a valid day off, employees would have to generate proof that they had, at one point during the day, done or been provided with a service to help them relax.  Perhaps a massage, a yoga class or even a matinee movie receipt.  I believe this would be ideal for the employee who feels overwhelmed but doesn't want to use a vacation day as they normally use all their vacation with the family during the holidays.  This is a day off for the employee to pamper themselves and relax, not a day for vacation.  What is considered proof of relaxation could be different for every company, however I believe it is important to enforce the treatments and relaxation to take this type of day off.


The second type of day off is "It is just too damn beautiful of a day to work"  day off.  Now this would also have to be limited to a number less than 2 or 3.  If the quantity was determined by the employee, it would lead to those in Southern California working less than they already do (no offense intended, but every time I am in San Diego, I see a abnormally large number of people not working during the work week).


The idea behind this revolves around the sun and weather and its correlation to our happiness.  Many times we all experience sitting inside an office when it is a gorgeous day outside during the week, only to get to the weekend for cold, wet and rainy days.   If this happens day in and day out for weeks, it can be quite frustrating and for others even depressing (especially for those in the Pacific NW or San Francisco).  This day off ensures that the employee gets to spend time in the sun, soaking up the vitamin D our bodies crave.   This type of impromptu day off, would once again, show that the employer values the balance between work and life.


Many people say you can either "work to live" or "live to work", I ask why can't you be balanced and do a little bit of both.