CAREER BREAK
| UNITED KINGDOM |
| CAREER BREAK |
An arrangement whereby an employee can take a lengthy period of time away from the organization, normally for domestic reasons such as looking after children. Some schemes also allow leave to be taken for other purposes, e.g. to gain a qualification. Most schemes provide that staff resign and the employer offers some undertaking regarding re-employment after the career break period (normally two to five years), but not necessarily in the same job. Individuals on such schemes usually are required to maintain some contact with the organization during the break. There are commonly qualifying conditions for access to career break schemes, which are often granted only at the discretion of the employer rather than as of right. Some schemes have been criticized by unions as being targeted only at managerial grades and available to selected employees rather than facilitating the reconciliation of work and family life for all employees. The users of such schemes are usually women, for whom it provides a way of gaining an extension to maternity leave. See maternity rights , parental leave , paternity leave .
Please note: the European industrial relations glossaries were compiled between 1991 and 2003 and are not updated. For current material see the European industrial relations dictionary.