Why don’t employers keep positions for staff away?

Why is it hard for employers to keep positions of employees on study leave for more than two years? My employer never retains positions or give opportunities to those who take study for this long. George

Dear George,
Every company has its own policy on study leave of absence. It is, therefore, important for an employee to understand and acknowledge it. In some companies, it is vital for employees to follow the study leave application procedure before any study commitment, otherwise they will be required to leave the organisation, especially if it is a long term arrangement, and re-apply for re-appointment, which may also be subject to availability of vacancies after completion of study.

Some companies consider the years of service before one can qualify for this arrangement. For instance, if you have served the organisation for less than a year, or have not completed your probation period, you may not be eligible. To also facilitate business continuity and avoid any disruptions, an employee intending to utilise this opportunity may be required to give notice of say three months prior to the application.

For some companies, study leave may be granted based on excellent past performance and line of study. For example, courses that conform to the overall strategic objectives of the organisation and address the skills requirements of the job may be given precedence. However, the beneficiaries may be bonded by the organisation and required to work for a certain period of time as stipulated in the company policy. For example, a study leave of two years may attract a bonding period of three years especially if its company sponsored.

Alice Nankya L. Nsibuka
HR business partner
NMG - Uganda
[email protected]