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ACKNOWLEDGMENT: This is a precis of an article entitled, "Why give employees sabbaticals? To reward, relax and recharge", which was originally published in HR Magazine, March 1996, pp. 58-70. The author was Elizabeth Sheley.
Rich crop of advantages
Apple Computer harvests a rich crop of advantages from its policy of offering sabbaticals to its employees. Staff get a chance to relax and recharge, away from the intense atmosphere of the workplace. Their colleagues can learn new skills, so the company always has a back-up during emergencies.
The California-based company offers staff a six-week paid sabbatical for every five years of employment. Once employees become eligible, they have a year in which to start the sabbatical. They can ask for an extension of either a year for business reasons, or six months for personal reasons. There are no exceptions to this rule, no matter how compelling the reason.
Apple does not allow employees to "sell" unused sabbatical time when they leave the company. It estimates that such a move would triple the costs of the programme.
Fluctuations in hiring can later create large waves of employees on leave. The human-resources department has a computerized list of employees who will be eligible for sabbatical within a certain time frame. The company can thus spot early when clusters of key employees become eligible at around the same time.
A major consideration is the employees who must carry the extra workload of someone on sabbatical. The burden of increased work can create stress - the very problem a sabbatical programme is designed to combat.
How problems are overcome
Sally Brewster, benefits manager, concedes that problems can...