Mr. Kui Cai, a 20-something engineer with injection press giant Ningbo Haitian Group Ltd., is stranded in Ningbo by the snowstorms. But he's excited! He received help buying a new condo and a free vacation package as Chinese New Year gifts from his bosses.

Cai, a native of the Jiangxi province, joined the research and development department of Haitian in 2006 upon college graduation. He and his new wife, also from Jiangxi, were ready to go back to their home province for the Spring Festival this year, but were forced to cancel their trip because of the snowstorms lashing China. So they found themselves with nowhere to go in Ningbo for the holiday.

The couple had planned to settle down in Ningbo to be together near Cai's work, so they started saving for a down payment on a condo. But the money was not adding up as quickly as they had wished.

When Haitian management heard of the couple's situation, they offered Cai 80,000 yuan to cover the condo's down payment.

Now the couple is busy decorating their new place for the holidays.

"Without the generous help from the company, I wouldn't know how to have a decent New Year," he told the local newspaper.

Cai also can't wait to use his bonus vacation package. The company will pay for everything during a one-week trip to Hong Kong and Macau, he said. He's never been off the mainland.

But Haitian is not the only plastics company that's going the extra mile to make sure their nonlocal employees enjoy the Chinese New Year even when they can't spend it at home.

Hangzhou-based Wahaha Group, China's beverage giant with in-house bottle making capacities, said most of the nonlocal employees are staying in Hangzhou for the Chinese New Year. Company executives, including the president and chief executive officer, invited all employees to attend the company's New Year's Eve reception. Wahaha organized performances and other entertainment activities for the celebration. The employer also tripled the pay for those who work during the holiday, plus overtime allowances.

Processor Zhejiang Guangbo Group Co. Ltd. originally had planned to escort 800-plus migrant employees home via charter bus services. As the snow blocked the roads, the owner immediately ordered 1,000 comforters for the dorms and arranged for a holiday celebration and local tours.

Information in this post is based on Chinese-language coverage in Ningbo News and China Business Times.