Santosh Varthy recently quit his job as a software professional after working in the IT sector for 7 years. He is now ‘on a break’, visiting his folks, trekking in Uttarakhand and learning to play guitar. He soon plans to volunteer as a maths teacher with one of the leading NGOs in the country. So is the high-paying IT sector off the radar? No, says Varthy, who expects to make a comeback in a year or so.
Like Varthy, several professionals perceive a sabbatical optimistically as their ‘me-time’, something that cherishes memories and enriches life experiences. A common trend in the West, where professionals take a break to unload themselves, sabbaticals are fast catching on with employees and employers at India Inc.
If Varthy chose to quit his job since his employer was not offering a sabbatical, there exist several ‘employee-friendly’ companies who are doling out sabbaticals to high performing employees in the hope that the employee’s new experience would ultimately benefit the company.
“Millennials are a lot more vocal and demanding of sabbaticals. Organisations cannot hide from finding ways to provide flexibility to employees. Giving a sabbatical goes a long way in assisting employees embrace their responsibilities and interests outside of work,” says Hamsaz Vasunia, HR head, DCB Bank.
According to Paneesh Rao, chief human resources officer, L&T Technology Services, the company offers sabbaticals for higher education, medical concerns, child care and personal reasons. “Our philosophy is to support the employee whenever the need arises and reaffirm our commitment towards establishing a long-term relationship with our stakeholders. Sabbaticals help us establish an emotional connect with our employees.”
Some corporates have policies designed to assist employees in their mission towards a sabbatical. At Infosys, says Richard Lobo, EVP and head – HR of the company, the Community Empathy Policy supports employees who wish to pursue their interests in community service by providing them with leave and a fellowship through a sabbatical. “We support the volunteering efforts of employees through our employee-led CSR groups and eco-groups across our campuses.”
Impact of Sabbaticals
From a company’s perspective, a sabbatical taken by an existing employee benefits the organisation through multiple ways. HR experts say that employees return with a clear mind, free of stress. “The employee is rejuvenated and works with increased efficiency. Sabbaticals add to long-term employee productivity and loyalty,” says Rao.
According to Lobo, employees develop a wider perspective and gain a lot from the experience. “However, they would need some time to catch up with the evolving technologies and skill requirements to ensure that the time spent during the sabbatical does not impact their relevance. Infosys provides ample learning and reskilling opportunities for the same.”
However, the picture is not so rosy for people like Varthy, who quit their jobs to pursue a sabbatical. In a declining job market with fewer opportunities, getting back into the mainstream workforce could be a bit of a challenge. “In our country, sabbaticals are not taken very kindly by prospective employers, as they worry that the reason for the exit from the previous organisation could be due to poor performance or misconduct. Thus, it is slightly more difficult to find a job through traditional channels of job sites and consultants. It is, however, easier if you have your own network and contacts who can help you get hired,” says Vasunia, adding that being on a sabbatical with an existing employer provides job security.
ON THE RETURN
- Sabbaticals are not taken very kindly by prospective employers
- They link such exits to poor performance or misconduct
- It is difficult to find a job through traditional channels. Hence, build your own network and contacts
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