India’s second-largest information technlogy services provider, Infosys Technologies, has issued letters to its employees stating they could opt for a one-year sabbatical to engage themselves in philanthropic activities. They would continue to draw 50 per cent of their salary during the period. Infosys crossed the 100,000-employee mark in India in the quarter ended September 30, 2008.The company said that while the move may have coincided with the global financial turmoil and slowing growth rates of IT firms, it should be perceived as a pure voluntary act by employees who are prompted by altruistic motives and inspired by the example of its chairman and chief mentor, NR Narayana Murthy.
The employees, an internal memo said, need to be on the company rolls for at least two consecutive years before they are eligible for the offer and a panel comprising senior members of the Infosys leadership team will decide each case. “This policy will promote volunteerism among employees and we believe that the value and benefits arising from it will have an impact on community, the employees and ultimately, the company,” it said.
Sources said that the policy came into force only a few days back and the company is working out the finer points like whether the employees will be given any salary or emolument during the sabbatical. However, it is understood that the company is planning to pay some amount of the salary, while the rest the employees can earn from the NGO they are working for.
An Infosys spokesperson confirmed the development: “We introduced this policy almost two months back, which allows the employees to go on up to one year of sabbatical to engage in philanthropic activities. All the employees have been communicated the policy internally.” When asked how much the employees will be paid during that time, the spokesperson said they will be given 50 per cent of the salary, while the other half will be given by the respective NGOs they work with.
“It’s a part of Narayana Murthy’s desire to give back to the society, which is driven by the fact that many employees quit their jobs to pursue philanthropic activities. This would give such employees an option to pursue their hobby while still continuing with the jobs, even if they will be paid a small amount by the company. The employees can go out with a cut in their salaries, even though the final details are being worked out by the company,” a source close to the development told Business Standard.
Infosys has a good deal of exposure to the sectors which have been worst hit by the current global economic meltdown such as banking and financial services, telecom and retail. In the last quarter, the company had announced that some of its clients in their sectors are coming back to re-negotiate. In a recent report, brokerage house CLSA had forecast that Infosys might miss its dollar revenue guidance for the third quarter, and may even post a sequential fall in the quarter.
The CLSA report also acknowledged that the flow of IT deals from the BFSI segment has “worsened substantially” and that long-term deals are being offered on “very tough terms”, thus putting pricing under serious threat as customers play one vendor against the other.
What is Sabbatical Leave
Sabbatical leave shall be granted subject to the following Rules and Regulations:
- The sabbatical leave would be exclusively for scientific or academic work at any relevant institution in India or abroad. The facility of sabbatical leave be extended to include work on other activities of the innovation chain with industry, consultancy organizations, financial institutions, project engineering firms, technology marketing/transfer agencies, etc.;
- The sabbatical leave would be admissible to Scientists "C" and above who have rendered not less than six years service in CSIR;
- Sabbatical leave should be granted once in six years, provided, the Scientist concerned has not gone on one year or longer deputation or assignment or study leave during the preceding six years;
- Sabbatical leave could be availed by a Scientist while receiving Fellowship or the like from CSIR or any other organization;
- The leave will be limited to a maximum period of one year; it may be taken for shorter duration;
- The scientist must have at least three years service after completion of Sabbatical leave;
- Sabbatical leave cannot be combined with any other leave;
- During the period of Sabbatical leave, the Scientist concerned will be paid full salary and allowance as would have been otherwise admissible to him'
- Scientist concerned will furnish a letter of acceptance from the Host Institution for undertaking advanced study/research;
- Scientist concerned will give an undertaking before proceeding on Sabbatical leave that he/she will utilize it for the bonafide purpose for which it is sanctioned and will not accept any commercial employment during the period of leave; If after rejoining duty, he/she resigns within three years he/she shall refund the salary paid to him/her during the period of his/her Sabbatical leave;
- During the period of Sabbatical leave, the Scientist will continue to retain accommodation on the same terms and conditions as are applicable to other Council employees;
- For all purposes the period of Sabbatical leave will treated as a period spent on duty without entitlement to TA and DA;In case the Scientist proceeds abroad, the laboratory where he/she is employed or CSIR will have no financial obligations including medical expenses;
- All applications shall be forwarded by Laboratories to CSIR in case Sabbatical Leave is out of the Country;
- On completion of Sabbatical leave, the Scientist will submit a detailed report on the work done and objectives accomplished;
- Sabbatical Leave Rules referred to above were approved by the Governing Body of CSIR at its 124th Meeting held on 24th of September, 1991 with the modification made in its 13th meeting held on 29th July ,1993;
- For the Rules and Regulations, refer Appendix II;
- Note: The revised MANAS (effective since 1/4/92) vide para 0.6.9 states that "The period spent on Sabbatical Leave will count for normal assessment". If accepted by GB, an addendum would be provided to the Guidelines on Sabbatical Leave already approved in the 124th GB meeting.
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