SINGAPORE - More organisations have given their staff unrecorded time off to go home and have dinner with their families for this year's Eat With Your Family Day on Friday (May 27).

A total of 612 organisations were involved this year, a 93 per cent increase from 317 last year. Of those involved on Friday, 219 were from the private sector, 360 were schools and 33 were ministries and statutory boards.

The jump this year was due to more schools taking part - 288 compared to 72 last year. The initiative is championed by the Centre for Fathering, a non-profit organisation that seeks to inspire, equip and support men in their role as fathers.

Launched in 2003, the annual Eat With Your Family Day seeks to encourage organisations to allow employees to leave work early to enjoy a meal with their children and families.

Mr Richard Hoon, chairman of the Centre for Fathering said that beyond employees, "we also hope that employers and companies will encourage their employees to not only work hard, but also live balanced lives with their families".

Some organisations have also come up with activities to complement the event. For instance, Cartus Corporation, a corporate relocation company, has organised a photo contest for employees that eat with their families.

A Cartus Corporation spokesman said that the company believes that when employees spend time with their families, it will "make a positive impact and foster healthy relationship with the family members".

For semiconductor tester Stats ChipPAC, employees are encouraged to raise funds and cook a meal for the needy at Willing Hearts, a charity organisation that operates a soup kitchen that prepares, cooks and distributes about 5,000 daily meals to the needy islandwide.