Xerox Sabbaticals

Though American business loudly proclaims its concern over ecology, pollution, poverty and race, not many companies are willing to subsidize their employees to work on these and other problems outside the factory or office. A few firms, including Cummins Engine and Prudential Insurance, have detached people to do good works not connected with their jobs, but the programs tend to be informal and restricted to projects chosen by management. Employees who want to do something else have to quit or take an unpaid leave.

There are signs that many employees feel a company ought to put its money where its image is. Last week, in response to a year of quiet urging by employee groups, Xerox Corp. announced that each year it will select 20 or more of its 38,000 U.S. employees for a year of "social service leave"--at full pay--to do anything they want that might contribute to a better society. The restrictions: the employee must have worked for Xerox at least three years, and the activity that he chooses must be legal, nonpolitical and sponsored by an existing nonprofit organization. For example, he might work in the area of civil rights, parole reform, drug-addiction aid or teaching retarded children. Any pay received will be supplemented by the company up to the level of the employee's normal income. He will continue to receive all company benefits and is guaranteed his old job back.

Dedicated Workers. The first Xerox sabbaticals for 1972 will be awarded in November by a board of seven employees, only one of whom is a company officer. Applicants do not have to have permission from their bosses to apply, and any manager who claims that an employee cannot be spared will have to prove it to Xerox President C. Peter McColough. He is a socially conscious executive who has led the company into sponsoring controversial TV documentaries (including an eight-part series on blacks in America) and aiding black-owned businesses. McColough believes that the company's new program will attract more dedicated young workers to Xerox. "Many of our best people would not be here today if Xerox stood only for profits," he says. "We've encouraged our people to be involved. We are determined to put something back into society."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.