India Inc looks to support employees with flexibility, time off

As the push to return to office grows stronger, a bunch of companies are looking to offer more flexibility and additional leaves to employees. Companies such as Adobe, NatWest, Meesho, Simpl and Hero Vired recognising the significance of flexibility and added time off, have introduced hybrid working, no-questions-asked leave, well-being days, recharge days, as well as company-wide time off, to mitigate burnout, reduce stress and promote better work-life balance.

Senior executives at these companies believe that such initiatives not only enhance productivity but also reduce absence due to ill health.

Earlier this month, Germany piloted a programme under which a host of companies will test the merits of working less. The six-month programme, started on February 1, will grant a day off every week to hundreds of employees while keeping them on full pay. Other countries such as the US, Canada and Australia, have also piloted four-day weeks.


“Employees today value flexibility in a significant way, and it is in the interest of employers to find ways to align corporate objectives with what today’s worker demands, without diluting the company culture and interests of their clients,” said Arvind Usretay, senior director, commercial leader - India and South Asia at consulting firm Mercer.

Supporting employees with flexibility, time off

NatWest is focusing on providing employees the flexibility to balance work from home and office. Employees are expected to be in office for a minimum of 40% of the working days in a month. The company has also rolled out various flexible working arrangements such as part-time working and long-term breaks.

“Additionally, we have a phase-back approach for colleagues returning after parental leave - we provide them even greater flexibility and expect them to gradually increase the number of days they need to be in office after they resume work,” said Maneesh Menda, head of human resources, international hubs, NatWest Group.

Meesho, too, has adopted a hybrid workplace model, offering up to two days of remote work weekly.

“We also provide an array of tailored leaves, including wellness, wedding, pet adoption and study leaves, ensuring support at every crucial juncture in our employees' lives,” said Ashish Kumar Singh, chief human resources officer, Meesho..

Others like Adobe observe designated well-being days, which allow employees to recharge, tap into their creativity or prioritise self-care. The company is offering six such days this year.

At Hero Vired, employees can work from home during personal and family exigencies, which, Samra Rehman, its head of people and culture, says is particularly useful in helping young parents who need support for childcare. Daily work hours are adjustable, catering to individual needs and promoting productivity.

Simpl has rolled out long-term wellness, family care, examination and pet adoption leaves to take care of employees’ needs. The top five leave categories utilised by employees were wellness, followed by vacation, family care, paternity and menstrual leave, which is being utilised by one out of two female employees, said chief human resources officer Sneha Arora.

Four-day work week unlikely

Due to India’s diverse workforce composition and varying socioeconomic conditions, a four-day work week may not be immediately feasible in India, said HR heads. However, the exploration of alternative approaches to enhance work-life balance and productivity remains a priority, they said.

“As the debate around the 80-hour work week continues, we believe it’s crucial to prioritise quality over quantity in terms of productivity and performance. Our initiatives emphasise the importance of efficiency, effectiveness and work-life integration, rather than simply logging hours,” Meesho’s Singh said.