Is hiring sabbaticals a wise decision for India?
By siliconindia   |   Tuesday, 26 October 2010, 15:31 IST   |    2 Comments
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Is hiring sabbaticals a wise decision for India?
Bangalore: Many of the Indian companies like TCS, Mindtree and Infosys are seeking out people on sabbaticals, and wooing them with good incentives and flexible working hours. This has become a new trend in the Indian business scenario and many may ask Is it a wise decision? The work-from-home option, maintenance of Esops, gratuity and other benefits has drawn the attention of many towards sabbatical options. This has also opened a new way for those who have hit a pause button in their career due to family responsibilities or other reasons, especially women who wish to come back to their career even after 14 to 15 years gap. Now you may be wondering is it really possible in a country like ours? In 2009, The Tata Group of companies came up with 'The Second Career Option' in 2009 for women employees of Titan who is ready to work on particular projects or assignments. The company found it beneficial and still continuing it in newer areas as well. From this year, MindTree has announced a policy called 'Part pay, part work,' where employees are being given the option of working on reduced hours. Employees are given all the benefits the regular workforce receives. Infosys is on the verge of rolling out a policy for young mothers who have been on a sabbatical. The firm realized that women employees who have children aged between 3 and 4 years may find it difficult to work as full-time employees. Infosys also allow their employees to take sabbatical and work for NGo's. The organization will cut 50 percent of the salary and they are free to get paid from the NGO too. The companies who are familiar with sabbatical hiring agree that employees who return after a break help fill the talent pool, in the process saving companies the cost of hiring afresh. They do not require a fresh orientation of the work culture. Besides, post-sabbaticals, employees work with a renewed zest, which their counterparts who have had a long innings without a break often cannot match. The only issue companies may face in such situation can be with sabbatical period. Companies expect minimum one year. Most of the re-hired people are engineers and researchers whose basics are sound, and thus it will be more beneficial for organizations.

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