Struggling against the sheer number of workdays lost through employees taking “sickies,” Norfolk-based food firm VJS Foods has introduced a bonus scheme for spotless attendance records.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


A monthly draw, open only to those employees with consistent attendance, boasts two prizes of £1000. After six months of continued non-absence, employees are guaranteed a share in the £50,000 jackpot.


Personnel manager Mark Oliver told just-food.com that, “it boiled down to the fact that a 3% pay rise is neither here nor there, really, and we were just trying to look at a way of rewarding those people who do come to work every day.” Apparently, the particularly high level of non-medical absenteeism during last summer also prompted the birth of a scheme designed to eliminate unjustified employee absence.


The 400 strong workforce at VJS has apparently welcomed the scheme, which has gone ahead with the full support of the on-site trade union, and the first monthly draw was held last Tuesday (2 January).

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Food Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving food industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now