Sabbatical Leave (Govt.) Scheme for women

Bank employees and officers are eligible to apply for the sabbatical leave (govt) scheme for women. Permanent female employees/officers with a minimum of 5 years of completed service are eligible for sabbatical leave. Only in exceptional circumstances, permanent female employees / female officers with less than a minimum of 5 years of service can apply. However, sanctioning the leave under the captioned scheme shall be at the sole discretion of the Bank depending on the merits of individual cases. The Sabbatical leave (Govt.) may be availed by a woman employee/officer of the bank for any purpose like medical grounds, care of family members or children, higher studies, visit spouse, etc. The period of Sabbatical leave (Govt.) shall be for a minimum period of 3 months at a time and the leave shall not be taken more than once in a year. Under this Sabbatical (Govt) scheme, leave up to 2 years is permissible during the entire career. However, for officers, the total leave period including the leave availed under the earlier Sabbatical Scheme of the Bank; EOL Scheme shall not exceed three years in the entire career. In the case of award staff, the total period including the leave availed under the earlier Sabbatical Scheme, EOL, and the extraordinary leave envisaged under Bipartite shall not exceed three years in the entire career. During the leave period, the Bank has the right to recall the employees/officers in case of exigencies by giving one month’s notice. Failure to report for duty in such instances shall be construed as misconduct. Employees/officers who intend to extend the leave for a further period have to take up with the Central Office (HRM Department) 3 months before the completion of the sanctioned leave period. Any extension of leave without prior approval shall be treated as LOP/UAA and appropriate action shall be taken against the erring employees/officers.

The employee/officer shall not be eligible for the following during the Sabbatical leave period:

a) Salary and other emoluments.

b) LFC, Leave encashment, LFC encashment, etc. (Any block falling within the leave period will get lapsed automatically).

c) Bonus, ex-gratia, medical / hospitalization expenses, festival advance /interest-free salary advance, expenses under staff welfare measures, etc.

d) To undergo the promotion process that may occur/accrue during the leave period.

e) To retain the bank quarters.

f) To retain the leased accommodation if any is provided.

g) To retain the bank’s vehicle/telephone and other assets including ID card before proceeding on Sabbatical Leave.

h) Any increments due during the Sabbatical leave period will be postponed for the period of leave. i.e. Service benefits such as Leave, Medical Aid, Leave Fare Concession, etc., shall not accrue to the employee during Sabbatical Leave.

i) Employees/ officers shall intimate to the Bank their leave address and telephone number/ e-mail ID for correspondence and any change has to be intimated immediately.

j) The employees/officers desiring to leave the services of the Bank by resignation/voluntary retirement during the Sabbatical Leave period may do so by submitting the applications in the prescribed manner as per rules.

k) The employee/officer shall make herself available to the Bank for any departmental enquiry, investigation, court case, etc., in respect of irregularities, if any, coming to light during the Sabbatical Leave period. On her failure to do so, she would be liable for appropriate action as deemed fit by the Bank.

l) The employees/officers against whom disciplinary action/court cases/criminal cases/CBI cases are pending/contemplated can also apply for Sabbatical Leave but such cases will be considered on merits and the Bank’s decision will be final.

After completion of Sabbatical Leave, the employee/officer shall rejoin in the same post and at the same stage of pay she was drawing at the time of proceeding on Sabbatical

Leave. The employee/officer shall be advised at her last known address, before the expiry of the leave period, her place of posting.

In the unfortunate event of the death of the employee/officer during the Sabbatical Leave period, terminal benefits will be paid to the legal heirs as per the rules of the Bank after adjusting liabilities. The employee shall not take up any employment/vocation/business/profession elsewhere during the Sabbatical.