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Cape Town - Taking a sabbatical certainly does not mean a top manager should sit three months in his holiday home by the sea, says Professor Johann Coetzee, an industrial and organisational psychologist specialising in the welfare of top executives.
His book, It's About Time, is about his own sabbatical.
He was responding to news that billionaire Richemont [JSE:CFR] chairperson Johann Rupert will take a year-long sabbatical after the group's annual meeting in September.
The 62-year-old executive wants to visit Antarctica and reportedly read "about 50 books".
"After 25 years, I believe that I have the right to take time off," Rupert said. He has been at the helm since 1988.
"I just want to be the master of my own time for a while. It’s ironic that someone in the watch business isn’t in control of his time,” he said according to Business Day.
Director of corporate relations at Richemont Alan Grieve said there is nothing wrong with Rupert and no deeper meaning should be read into his announcement.
“He looks forward to taking the time to read and to play gholf. He leaves the company in good hands,” Grieve told Sake24 on Thursday.
Rupert leaves the management of Richemont in the hands of its senior executive committee consisting of Bernard Fornas, Richard Lepeu and Gary Saage. In his absence, vice-chairperson Yves-Andre Istel will chair the board meeting.
Meanwhile, Coetzee told Sake24 that taking a sabbatical has nothing to do with age, but relates to seniority in the company.
Even people in their thirties go on sabbatical. Top managers who can afford it take up to two years off, but it is usually between three and five months.
Usually a top executive may go on sabbatical every five years, but some companies even allow a sabbatical to be taken every three years.
"Remember, the average South African executive has clocked up overtime of up to 10 years. Sabbatical leave is becoming increasingly popular and it is very functional.
"In my opinion, someone on sabbatical should be doing nothing at all related to work or his/her normal routine," said Coetzee. "It must be a disciplined phase of self-discovery, renewal and enrichment. The company will then welcome back a ‘renewed’ individual."
Professor John Powell, head of the University of Stellenbosch Business School, says a sabbatical is a good thing only if it leads to innovative ideas for the company or organisation concerned.
"The most important question to consider for sabbatical leave is thus if it will generate new, innovative ideas that will benefit the company," said Powell.
Top managers who took sabbatical and transformed the South African business landscape are Naspers [JSE:NPN] CEO Koos Bekker, Johann le Roux while at Momemtum and Steve Booysen during his term at Absa Group [JSE:ASA].
Bekker took a year's sabbatical which he used in part to explore new trends in the media industry.
His book, It's About Time, is about his own sabbatical.
He was responding to news that billionaire Richemont [JSE:CFR] chairperson Johann Rupert will take a year-long sabbatical after the group's annual meeting in September.
The 62-year-old executive wants to visit Antarctica and reportedly read "about 50 books".
"After 25 years, I believe that I have the right to take time off," Rupert said. He has been at the helm since 1988.
"I just want to be the master of my own time for a while. It’s ironic that someone in the watch business isn’t in control of his time,” he said according to Business Day.
Director of corporate relations at Richemont Alan Grieve said there is nothing wrong with Rupert and no deeper meaning should be read into his announcement.
“He looks forward to taking the time to read and to play gholf. He leaves the company in good hands,” Grieve told Sake24 on Thursday.
Rupert leaves the management of Richemont in the hands of its senior executive committee consisting of Bernard Fornas, Richard Lepeu and Gary Saage. In his absence, vice-chairperson Yves-Andre Istel will chair the board meeting.
Meanwhile, Coetzee told Sake24 that taking a sabbatical has nothing to do with age, but relates to seniority in the company.
Even people in their thirties go on sabbatical. Top managers who can afford it take up to two years off, but it is usually between three and five months.
Usually a top executive may go on sabbatical every five years, but some companies even allow a sabbatical to be taken every three years.
"Remember, the average South African executive has clocked up overtime of up to 10 years. Sabbatical leave is becoming increasingly popular and it is very functional.
"In my opinion, someone on sabbatical should be doing nothing at all related to work or his/her normal routine," said Coetzee. "It must be a disciplined phase of self-discovery, renewal and enrichment. The company will then welcome back a ‘renewed’ individual."
Professor John Powell, head of the University of Stellenbosch Business School, says a sabbatical is a good thing only if it leads to innovative ideas for the company or organisation concerned.
"The most important question to consider for sabbatical leave is thus if it will generate new, innovative ideas that will benefit the company," said Powell.
Top managers who took sabbatical and transformed the South African business landscape are Naspers [JSE:NPN] CEO Koos Bekker, Johann le Roux while at Momemtum and Steve Booysen during his term at Absa Group [JSE:ASA].
Bekker took a year's sabbatical which he used in part to explore new trends in the media industry.
