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Photos: How Alibaba celebrated its 15th Ali Day in all offices globally

On 10 May, Chinese conglomerate Alibaba marked Ali Day in offices worldwide, featuring forums by senior executives to answer employees' questions, enjoy music and dance performances by Alibaba employees (known as Aliren), and blood pressure and eyesight check-ups for family members of staff.

It was features the novel "wedding", which is essentially a celebration of employees who have been married over the previous year. Alibaba Founder and Executive Chairman, Jack Ma (pictured above) often officiates, offering words of wisdom to the new couples.

In 2018, almost 10,000 family members and friends visited the company’s Xixi headquarters alone, while this year, more than 100,000 Aliren and their families were involved in the celebrations globally.

Two Alibaba mascots kicked off the group wedding celebration at this year's Ali Day.

Ali Day is held to mark the tenacity of colleagues and their families during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) crisis in China 16 years ago.

During the height of the outbreak in May 2003 in China, one employee was thought to have contracted the deadly virus. "The entire staff was ordered to self-quarantine at home. But instead of putting the business on hold, everyone, including family members, pulled together to keep the operation afloat," per the company's statement.

Thus, on the basis of an employees' recommendation, this prompted Ma to declare May 10 as “Ali Day,” as a way to pay tribute to employees and their family members, whom he often calls the company’s "biggest pillar". The company adds: "It also underscores Alibaba’s values, placing 'customers first, employees second and shareholders third'."

 

All photos / Provided  Lead photo / Jack Ma presiding over the group wedding celebration on Ali Day

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