January 8, 2024

Dear Sheru,

We invite all eligible Sherus to make their 2024 block leave plan by February 15 and avail of block leave of ten consecutive working days before December 31 this year. At Sharekhan, we recognise the importance of work-life balance and how time away from work responsibilities contributes to a happier and healthier workforce. Taking a vacation or personal time away from work lowers stress levels, reduces burn-out risk, and improves mental health and well-being. Therefore, we encourage all eligible employees to take full advantage of block leave.

The purpose of block leave is two-fold: Risk control for the management and a sabbatical for the staff. All eligible employees are requested to speak to their managers and plan their block leave and update the dates on ShareKonnect latest by February 15, 2024.

Follow the 25% in 1 quarter rule

In 2022 and 2023, we observed that a large section of the staff availed of their block leave in the last quarter of the year especially in December, thereby affecting the smooth functioning of the business by disrupting the day-to-day processes in some departments. That is not a good practice and it is expected that we plan and organise ourselves more efficiently. In 2024, we need to scrupulously abide by the guidelines that at least 25% of the staff of each and every department must avail of block leave in each of the four quarters of the year to maintain business continuity and avoid undue pressure on their colleagues.

How to take a block leave in 2 easy steps:

1. Finalise the dates after discussing with your line manager.
2. Apply for block leave by submitting the start and end dates of your block leave on ShareKonnect, our human resource management system.

Important note:

• All staff of Sharekhan (on roll, external, retainers, interns* and trainees*) who joined on or before December 31, 2023 must avail of block leave before December 31, 2024.
• It’s a collective responsibility of the manager and the employees to ensure that block leaves for the team are well spread throughout the year and the ShareKonnect is accordingly updated on or before February 15, 2024.
• Once your block leave dates are updated on ShareKonnect, the same will be considered as final and you will not be able to change the dates in the system.
• If, for some reason, you wish to change the dates, you must update the same on ShareKonnect two days prior to the start of your previously planned block leave with the approval of your manager; otherwise your terminal and e-mail ID will be blocked for the previously planned block leave dates.
• Employees serving notice period are not mandated to be on block leave as they need to serve the notice period and no leaves are allowed during the time.

*Interns and trainees may avail of block leave in 2024 only if they joined before December 31, 2023, and their internship/training ends after December 31, 2024.

Aaj abhi block leave plan kar, Sharekhan kar.