Need Help Crafting a Leave Policy for Our New Gurgaon IT Center – Any Local Insights?

Hi Friends, We started a new IT development center in Gurgaon recently. I need help in formulating a leave policy for the new center. What are the various types of leaves and their minimum versus maximum limits that need to be considered/provided? Some benchmark data will also be helpful if that can be shared. I come from South India, and I don't have an idea about the local legislation. Please share your thoughts!

Thanks,
H. Mohammed Farook

Here in Gurgaon (Haryana), we are required to follow leave rules as laid down in section 14 of the Punjab Shops & Commercial Establishment Act, 1958, as applicable to the State of Haryana. You are to allow National & Festival holidays keeping in view this Act. If you are employing ten or more employees, then the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 will also be applicable in the case of the employment of women employees. If the employment strength is less than 10 and you are employing a woman employee, then section 31 of the Punjab Shops Act will be applicable for the grant of maternity benefit. These are the bare minimum statutory leaves. You can grant an additional number of leaves by adopting a leave policy for your establishment.

With Regards,
R.N.KHOLA

Please find below a list of leaves and their explanations that you can use to develop a policy for your company. Also, note that if you use the search key, you will find different HR policies that may contain the leave policy you are seeking.

Different Types of Leaves:

- **Annual Leave:** Employees are entitled to days off annually, which can be calculated by calendar days and working days, ranging from 30 days and above.

- **Casual Leave:** Employees are annually entitled to up to 10 days of casual leave for personal business, usually planned and requested at least one day in advance.

- **Emergency Leave:** Employees are allowed to take days off in case of an emergency.

- **Sick Leave:** In case an employee falls sick, they are allowed to take a day off certified by the hospital that the leave is required.

- **Maternity Leave:** Female employees are entitled to leave in case of delivery, starting from 45 days.

- **Paternity Leave:** Employees are allowed 1-3 days of leave to attend to their spouse delivering a child.

- **Study Leave:** Employees are allowed to take a day off to study before attending exams, provided they submit documents and exam schedules to the management.

- **Leave Without Pay:** In case an employee has utilized all their entitled leave and still requires time off, they may apply for leave without pay, subject to management discretion for approval.

- **Marriage Leave:** Employees are allowed 3 days of leave to get married.

- **Patient Escorting Leave:** In case of illness in the family requiring travel outside the country for treatment, employees are allowed up to 15 days of leave to escort a direct relative, i.e., father, mother, siblings, spouse, and children only.