Ketchum to introduce sabbaticals

IAN DARBY 02-Oct-98

Ketchum, one of the world’s largest PR networks, is introducing a sabbatical scheme to encourage staff performance.

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.’

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