#trending: Paradise Group gives 98 Rolex watches from authorised dealers, 255 gold bars to long-serving workers

SINGAPORE — Singapore-based restaurant operator Paradise Group has drawn praise from online users after it rewarded 330 of its employees with expensive gifts, including Rolex watches and Suisse gold bars at an annual dinner and dance on Monday (March 6).

In a Facebook video shared by a supposed company employee, staff members were seen walking up to a table lined with Rolex watches to collect their gift.

The watches of various models such as the Datejust were reportedly awarded to 98 employees who have served the company for 10 years or more, regardless of the position they hold. A check online shows that the model, Datejust 31 (Oyster, 31mm, Oystersteel), is retailing for about S$9,800. 

In response to TODAY’s queries, the restaurant group said that all 98 watches were procured from authorised Rolex dealers.

This is the second time the company has given out Rolex watches to its workers, TODAY understands. The first time the food-and-beverage chain gifted its employees luxury watches was in 2018.

Staff members who have served between five and seven years were given Suisse gold bars weighing 2.5g, whereas those who have worked for eight or nine years received gold bars weighing 5g. The 2.5g bullion bars are each worth around S$240 and the 5g ones are each valued at S$450.

For long-serving employees of 15 years, travel vouchers worth S$5,000 were given since they had already received Rolex watches at their 10th-year milestone in 2018, the company told TODAY. 

In all, 255 staff members received the gold bars and eight received the S$5,000 travel voucher.

The company explained that even though it was the 14th anniversary for Paradise Group, there are workers who have been employed for longer because its first outlet Seafood Paradise was opened along Defu Lane in 2002 before the company became a holding company (Paradise Group Holdings Pte Ltd) in 2008.

The award ceremony was part of Paradise Group’s anniversary celebrations, which was held at the Marina Bay Sands Grand Ballroom, with more than 1,300 employees and partners in attendance.

Paradise Group — which operates popular chains such as Paradise Dynasty, Beauty in the Pot and LeNu Chef Wai’s Noodle Bar — spent close to S$2 million on this year's event. The amount is inclusive of the cost of the watches and other gifts, it said.

Social media users have expressed awe at the company’s gesture, as well as envy of its employees.

One online user wrote that everyone else’s boss will do good things for their workers, but all the user gets is a smile from the boss.

Another bitterly said: “I worked for 10 years and my boss gave me a retrenchment letter.”

Others joked that they should send the Facebook post to their bosses as a hint, while some asked if Paradise Group was hiring.

Back in January, an annual party for a crane manufacturer in Henan, China also made headlines when they handed out year-end bonuses to their employees in cash. The top three performers reportedly walked away with a five million yuan (S$970,000) each.

The company, which supplies to the mining industry, had racked up record revenues and apparently not retrenched anyone despite China's economic slowdown and strict Covid-19 policies.