Maternity Leave and Appraisals: Should a 6-Month Leave Affect 2018-2019 Evaluations?

Hi, I am working as an HR in an IT MNC company. I have a question: can we consider the employee who has taken a 6-month maternity leave in the appraisal process for 2018-2019?

Performance Appraisal for Employees on Maternity Leave

An employee who availed maternity leave, after it was sanctioned by the employer upon her fulfilling the eligibility, must have demonstrated satisfactory work performance during her entire period of continuous employment. There is no rationale why her performance for the time period she was on duty, present, and performing her tasks should not be appraised. The objective of performance appraisal is twofold: i) evaluating her contributions and ii) identifying possible areas for improvement.

Admissibility of or availing maternity leave is not a valid reason for excluding an employee from appraisal.

Regards, Kritarth Team

The period of maternity leave is to be treated as a duty period for all service benefits and purposes. However, if the performance appraisal period is one year and the period of maternity leave granted to the employee falls in between, it has to be excluded. The appraisal has to be done proportionately only.

You need to consider her for appraisal despite her being on sanctioned maternity leave.

Thank you.