Leaves in IT MNC’s

The leave policy’s are quite flexible in Government Jobs, PSU and Nationalized banks. But when it comes to MNC, they are slightly conservative in their leave policies.

While business requirements have to be taken into consideration when vacation is taken, management will ensure that workload does not prevent the employee to take an annual leave.

Applicability: All employees and direct contracts are covered under the policy.

1) Company Holidays

Normally every Company declares 10 holidays in each calendar year. Out of these 10 holidays, 3 are national mandatory holidays. If the national holidays fall on a weekend, then the companies give holiday on some other festival (regional or otherwise). These are the three national holidays.

• Republic day  (26^th January)
• Independence day (15^th August)
• Gandhi Jayanti (2^nd October)

The companies pick up rest of the seven leaves from one of the below:

• Sankranthi/Pongal
• Holi
• Shivratri
• Id-Ul-Fitr
• Dussehra
• Diwali
• Christmas

The above list can vary from companies to companies. For example, a company in West Bengal may give 2-3 days of leave during Durga Puja. Another company in Delhi can give 2 days of Holiday during Diwali. Some holidays are regional if there is mandate from the state govt For example

Every company in Karnataka gives holiday on the 1^st of November on the occasion of Karnataka Rajyotsava.

Starting 2015,the companies in Telangana will declare 2^nd June as Telangana Formation Day.

2) Sick/ Casual Leave :

The company gives 6 to 10 days of sick leave. The word sick leave itself is simple and clear to understand. Here the deduction of salary or certain amount to pay or not to the company against the sick leave depends upon the management policy. Emergency leave of employee who is unable to report to work on grounds of emergency, he/she should inform the Supervisor on the same day. The Supervisor is then responsible to inform Personnel Department. The Employee is responsible to inform directly to the Supervisor about the nature of the emergency leave. Sick leave as per the policy can be taken only 1.5 days of every month and causal leave can be only 3 days in a year. He/She who is having 100% of working days can carry his leave for the next coming year. If the sick leave is taken for more than 3 days then a medical certificate will be required.

3) Marriage leave (own wedding) :

This is normally given from 3 days to 5 days. Marriage leave has to be taken within one month of registration or ceremony. An employee is asked to take 1-3 days marriage leave under the national regulations. Employers should provide three days marriage leave to their employees. If the ceremony is going for a long time, In such cases, the relevant employee will generally be provided between 7 and 12 additional days of leave depending on local rules of the individual company. Employee can take some more days off by using their vacation leave. Note that wedding leave is allowed one time within the organization. If you have already availed marriage leave once in the organization, then you may not be granted leave for re-marriage. Check with the exact policy.

Read: Leave in IT companies: TOP 10 list

4) Maternity  Leave :

Normally 12 weeks will be granted for women employees for each delivery. When an employee announces she’s pregnant, the company and management should support her in all matter rather than just congratulating. Before she takes an off for 12 weeks the management responsibilities increases to take care of her travelling and the work place environment before her deliver leave starts. 12 weeks is paid leave. The employee can use her sick leave and vacation leave as per the situation and can use her paid vacation. Government is trying to make the change in the laws asking IT companies to increase maternity leave for at least 24 weeks because of child care after his/her birth.

5) Paternity Leave:

It normally varies from 3 to 5 working days. Where a mother gives birth to the child, father also plays an equally important role. A father has to be emotionally and physically available for both, mother and child, before and after the delivery time, so he can apply for the leave as per the local rules in company. Some companies are increasing this leave to 2 weeks.

6) Bereavement Leave:

This is applicable for the death of immediate family members (spouse, parents and parents-in-laws and children). Normally 3 days of leave is granted. No policy/law can cover the loss of a loved one but you can apply for immediate leave for 3 or more days according to the situation and company’s policy. It’s the management duty to grant him/her leave and support them completely. Most of the company supports the employee completely. Most of the people come back to work after 13 days of mourning. If it is the Death of other relatives (siblings and siblings-in-laws, grandparents and grandparents-in-laws). This is also same as above mentioned in family death leave policy, but you should not take more than 2 days off for such kind off funerals and deaths. The companies HR should handle this situation sensitively.

7) Unpaid Leave:

In case of exceptional circumstance, the company also grants unpaid leave to employees for appropriate reasons, whenever reasonable without impacting negatively the company’s ability to execute its business. In such cases the HR and the Supervisor will decide and document in writing the duration of the leave and the applicability of benefits during such period. Such leave could be due to a terminal illness of immediate family members. These days the companies have become responsive to the need of an employee. At the same time, the employee also has to show responsibility to the employer.

8) Carry Forward of Leaves

Most of the companies allow 10+ Days of annual leave can be carried forward to next financial year. The annual leave carried forward will lapse unless availed by the end of the financial year. Unutilized sick/casual leave will lapse at the end of the year. There could be a maximum cap on the number of leaves that can be carry forwarded.

9) Adoption leave

Some companies give adoption leave if you are going to legally adopt a child. This could be limited to 2 children during your tenure. This is given to complete the legal formalities and create a bonding with the child.

10) Vacations:

Normally, vacation leaves are added for every month worked. For example, it could be 0.75 days for every month worked, which is 9 leaves in a year. It could be 1.5 leave for every month worked. So, it will be 18 leaves in a year. This leave should be approved by your supervisor/HR. You might need to rework on your leave plans as you do not have enough leave balance. Although vacation time seems like a standard requirement during the work, employers have actually legal obligation to offer their employees any vacation leave. If the employee has saved his leave during a year he can carry those leave for next year and plan his vacations for the safer side. Management has the option of giving employees two weeks off for the first year, three weeks off after five years, and four weeks off for 10 or 15 years during his career work.

“Employees perform their best when they are free on a holiday and  properly granted leaves according to situations and issues”