Understanding Sandwich Leave: Does It Apply for August 16-18 with a Return on Monday?

Respected Seniors,

If any employee takes leave on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of August 2023, and returns on the 21st of August 2023, which falls on a Monday, will sandwich leave be applicable in this case?

Please guide.

Hi, if Saturday, 19.8.23, is a working day for you, then Saturday should be considered as leave. Otherwise, the sandwich leave will not apply as the employee is reporting back to work on 21.8.23, Monday.

As you work 5 days a week, the employee will be treated as having only 3 days of leave. Tuesday is a holiday, and Saturday & Sunday are days off.

Hi, no need to apply the sandwich concept.

Yes, in the scenario you've described, the concept of sandwich leave would be applicable.

Here's why:

You are taking leave on consecutive working days, which are the 16th, 17th, and 18th of August. The weekend (19th and 20th of August) falls between these leave days. You return to work on Monday, the 21st of August. Since the leave is taken between two non-working days (weekend) and the employee returns to work on the next working day (Monday), this situation aligns with the concept of sandwich leave. This means that the employee is essentially "sandwiching" their leave days between two non-working days. However, please keep in mind that the application of sandwich leave can vary based on company policies and practices. It's advisable to consult your organization's HR department or refer to your company's leave policy to ensure that you are following the correct leave procedure.

Admittedly, the employee has availed of leave on three consecutive days followed by two holidays on Saturday and Sunday, and he returns on Monday. To my understanding, there is no case for sandwich leave in the given facts. When an employee takes leave of two days or more and a holiday falls in between, then that holiday is considered paid leave under the sandwich leave policy. For example, if an employee takes two days of leave on Saturday and Monday, then the middle Sunday will not be considered a holiday.

It could only be a sensible policy that an employee could prefix and/or suffix holidays to the period spent under leave.

This is not a real case for providing a solution to your problem. 17th Aug - 21st Aug is yet to come. However, I can answer your query.

If an employee avails leave on the 16th, 17th, and 18th and reports for duty on the 21st (19th Sat & 20th Sun are offs for your company), then the total number of leaves to be debited is only 3 days. Very simple. The question of sandwich leave does not arise.