EMPLOYEE LEAVE POLICY
- Policy effective from
- [Effective Date]
- Leave year
- January to December
- Policy owner
- — Head — Human Resources
This Leave Policy governs the entitlement, application, approval, and administration of all leaves for employees of . All employees are expected to comply with the provisions of this Policy.
1. Scope and Applicability
This Policy applies to all full-time permanent employees of the Company. Contract staff, interns, and consultants are governed by their respective engagement terms. Part-time employees shall be eligible for leave on a pro-rated basis.
2. Leave Year
The leave year for the purpose of this Policy shall be from January to December ("Leave Year"). Leaves are credited at the beginning of each Leave Year. New joiners shall receive leave on a pro-rated basis from the month of joining.
3. Casual Leave (CL)
Entitlement: 12 days per Leave Year. CL is intended for unforeseen personal exigencies, domestic requirements, or social obligations. CL cannot be accumulated or carried forward to the next Leave Year. Maximum 3 consecutive CL days can be taken at a time. CL cannot be clubbed with other leave types without prior managerial approval.
4. Sick Leave (SL)
Entitlement: 12 days per Leave Year. SL is for genuine medical illness or injury. For SL exceeding 3 consecutive working days, a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner is mandatory. Unused SL may be encashed at the rate of 50% of basic salary per day at the end of the year, subject to company discretion. SL cannot be pre-planned.
5. Earned / Privilege Leave (EL/PL)
Entitlement: 15 days per Leave Year (accrued at the rate of 1.3 days per month of service). EL must be applied for a minimum of 3 days in advance. Minimum 3 consecutive working days must be applied at a time. Unused EL may be carried forward up to a maximum of 30 days. Excess EL above 30 days will lapse unless encashed (subject to company policy on encashment). EL may be encashed at the time of resignation / retirement subject to applicable tax and company norms.
6. Maternity Leave
Entitlement: 182 days (26 weeks) of paid Maternity Leave in accordance with the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (as amended). Applicable for female employees who have worked for at least 80 days in the preceding 12 months. An additional 26 weeks of unpaid leave may be granted at the discretion of the Management. Adoption and surrogacy leave: 12 weeks as per the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017.
7. Paternity Leave
Entitlement: 5 days of paid Paternity Leave. Applicable for male employees on the birth or adoption of a child. Must be applied within 6 months of the child's birth. Paternity leave is not carried forward.
8. Bereavement Leave
Entitlement: 3 days of paid Bereavement Leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member (spouse, child, parent, sibling, parent-in-law). An additional 3 days may be granted at managerial discretion for close relatives. Bereavement leave is not carry-forwardable and cannot be clubbed with EL without prior approval.
9. Optional / Restricted Holidays
Employees may avail 2 Optional Holidays per year from a list of regional / religious holidays declared by the Company at the start of the Leave Year. Optional Holidays are non-encashable and non-carry-forwardable.
10. Leave Without Pay (LWP) / Loss of Pay (LOP)
In the event an employee exhausts all paid leave balances, additional leave may be granted as Leave Without Pay (LWP) subject to managerial and HR approval. LWP days will result in proportional salary deduction. Continuous LWP exceeding 30 days without approval may be treated as abandonment of employment.
11. Leave Application Process
All leave applications must be submitted through the designated HR Management System (HRMS) / leave management tool. Prior approval is required except in medical emergencies (SL). Retroactive leave applications are permitted for medical leave only, with a supporting certificate. Leaves taken without approval will be treated as Loss of Pay.
12. Holidays
The Company shall declare a list of Public / National Holidays at the beginning of each year. Employees required to work on a public holiday shall be entitled to a compensatory day off within 60 days.
13. Amendments
The Company reserves the right to amend, supplement, or repeal this Policy at any time. Amendments will be communicated to all employees via email / HRMS.
LEAVE SUMMARY TABLE
| Leave Type | Days/Year | Carry Forward | Encashable |
|---|
| Casual Leave (CL) | 12 days | No | No |
| Sick Leave (SL) | 12 days | No | Partial (50%) |
| Earned / Privilege Leave (EL) | 15 days | Up to 30 days | Yes (at exit) |
| Maternity Leave | 182 days | N/A | N/A |
| Paternity Leave | 5 days | No | No |
| Bereavement Leave | 3 days | No | No |
| Optional Holidays | 2 days | No | No |
Approved by — Head — Human Resources,
Effective Date: [Effective Date]