Ketchum, one of the world’s largest PR networks, is introducing a
sabbatical scheme to encourage staff performance.
Ketchum is offering eight weeks paid leave to employees who complete
seven years with the firm.
The programme will be offered to Ketchum’s 1,030 employees worldwide at
all levels, including 150 staff in London.
Ketchum, with headquarters in New York and with 47 offices across the
world, hopes that the scheme will strengthen its culture and foster
long-term careers. David Drobis, senior partner and CEO of Ketchum,
said: ’By giving our people the time to rejuvenate, we’re confident that
they will return with a refreshed perspective, ready for new challenges
and better able to service our clients and their businesses.’
Other agency networks, such as UK-based Text 100, operate sabbaticals,
but Ketchum, the seventh-largest network in the world, is one of the
first agencies in the top ten to introduce such a scheme.
Mark Adams, associate chairman of Text 100 which introduced its scheme
18 months ago, said: ’It’s the way forward in a service industry.’
However, some agency rivals remain unconvinced that sabbatical schemes
work. Richard Edelman, president of Edelman Wordwide, said: ’We won’t be
doing it at Edelman. Clients need our people to be around and this
sounds like idealism in full flower.’
