Latest HR Trends ---- Balancing Work- Life through SABBATICALS

Latest HR Trends ---- Balancing Work- Life through SABBATICALS

Once there was a time when a break from work meant unpaid leave of few weeks for a vacation or a day leave from office.

Well, that was then and with the changing times, many organizations across India Inc. are setting new policies including that of providing sabbaticals to their employees.

Sabbaticals short leaves that are usually offered to employees who have been with the company for a relatively long period of time. Sabbaticals can range from 3 weeks to almost two years depending upon the reason for the break.

Many Organizations use this as a retention tool. Like, Adobe Systems have a global program where an employee, who has been with the organization for five years, is entitled to a sabbatical leave of three weeks, with pay. Also he/she has the option of combining his/her regular leaves with this time and extend the sabbatical.

At Genpact HR feel employees deserve time off from work. So apart from granting short time sabbaticals, they offer them long term leaves, for a year or so. However if an employee expresses a desire for further studies or in case of female employees, who may wish to extend their maternity leaves a little longer.

With the aid of Sabbaticals, one no longer has to kill the dream of enrolling for a regular MBA course due to the fear of losing current job & hunting a new one post completion of the course.

Taking short break always helps. These organizations believe in maintain work-life balance. Sabbaticals help an employee to realign priorities. Organizations today work towards Employee Benefit. So when they get an opportunity to take a leave, the organization supports them to go ahead. The idea is they do not want their employees to be stressed at work all the time. They rather have them rejuvenated as these sabbaticals prove to be fruitful for both the company and the employee.

Often, stress prevents most individuals from enjoying their jobs and also impacts their personal lives. In such cases, a break helps to set life in order and come back with a bang. The employee returns refreshed and is ready to tackle, with a greater conviction at his/her workplace, as sabbaticals also helps the employee to introspect and evaluate. An example is that of a female employee who was given the freedom to extend her maternity leave. After her return she was more dedicated, responsible and afresh and her loyalty towards the organization was visible in her action and work.

Yes, Sabbaticals do improve the output of an employee. We believe that sabbatical helps to increase the output of the employee. One of the employees had just completed his five-year term with a company and he knew that he could take some time off. He combined his other annual leaves and took a long two months break. Once he returned, a physical and mental change in him could be noticed contributing positively. He was thinking on a different creative path, which was a refreshing change as his job profile has very little to do with the creative line.

Employees, at Genpact, who have returned after a sabbatical are more committed and engaged with their work. Seeing these employees the ones who were hesitant to take such leaves are motivated to do so.

However, there are times when a sabbatical might not exactly work in favor of the organization or the employee. Employees might find it a little hard to return back to work. There is a challenge attached to it, returning to work after a lengthy break may prove difficult on both a practical and a psychological level. It is also natural to be dismayed at the changes that may have taken place at the work place like major re-structuring in departments or work policies, new technology, new colleagues etc. and the employee may find it difficult to cope with them initially.

Therefore, if want to study further for higher degree, travel abroad, spend quality time with family and children or simply wish to sit at home for a while and recharge batteries, then you need not quit your job. Take a simpler & excellent option ------ Take a SABBATICAL.