What is a sabbatical- how did the trend move from academicians to corporate culture

rooma Bal
Perfect Sabbatical Program

Sabbatical has recently become popular in the corporate setting. It used to be period of rest for academicians for pursuing research or other work. Intel was the first company to introduce the concept in 1969.

Time Frame:

A sabbatical can be as short as 03 weeks and as long as a couple of yrs. Some companies allow individuals the freedom to combine sabbatical leave with annual vacations.

Eligibility:

A large number of organization offer sabbaticals as an award to top performers .If this is the case it is important to have clear policies ,that outline the criteria defining top performers. Many times the eligibility criteria for a sabbatical is usually dependent on the length of service with the organization, and in most cases this is 05 years.

The Return:

Most employee return from the sabbatical with a sense of renewed vigor and a fresh perspective. Some do find it difficult to adjust to the pace of work or catch up on lost time, but more often than not, this is minor issue that gets resolved.

Backup Plan:

Deciding on the relocation and redistribution of workload of the employee going for a sabbatical is a process that calls for intensive planning and coordination .It is also important to ensure that collegues understand and appreciate the necessity of handling extra work pressure temporarily.

Playing it Safe:

There is a risk that employee may be enticed by alternative career opportunities while on sabbatical.Because of this, many companies impose penalties on individuals who chose not to return after their sabbatical leave. Employee are obliged to reimburse their former employer the full amount if they resign immediately.

Out of Hand?

Having several employees on leave simultaneously can be a challenge for any managers. Considering a system of staggered leaves can come to rescue in this situation.

Cost Implications

Many organization provides full pay during the sabbatical period, spc.for short sabbatical of a few weeks. For sabbatical that last a few months, it is customary to offer half salary. But then again there are no hard and fixed rules, when it comes to compensation.
Savitha_kalkur
Hi
Pls let me know what action can be taken if the emp does not come back after sabatical Leave
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