Sabbaticals

Correct Answer: Approve the sabbatical request and establish a plan for knowledge transfer and team coverage during the employee's absence.

Approving the sabbatical request while establishing a plan for knowledge transfer and team coverage ensures that the employee's initiative is supported and aligned with organizational goals. This approach maintains productivity and continuity within the team. Declining the request could demotivate the employee and overlook the potential benefits of their community service. Approving without a formal plan may lead to unforeseen disruptions, and offering a reduced work schedule might not fully accommodate the employee's commitment to community service.

Correct Answer: Allowing employees to engage in research projects related to the organization's industry, thereby bringing back new insights.

The best illustration is allowing employees to engage in research projects related to the organization's industry, thereby bringing back new insights. This strategic approach directly fosters organizational innovation by leveraging employees' research to generate new ideas and improvements specific to the industry. The other options, while beneficial for employee satisfaction and corporate image, do not directly contribute to enhancing organizational innovation.

Correct Answer: Enhancing employee retention by providing long-term career growth opportunities

Offering sabbatical leave enhances employee retention by providing long-term career growth opportunities, which can increase employee loyalty and reduce turnover. The other options are incorrect because reducing short-term labor costs is not a primary benefit of sabbaticals, ensuring immediate availability of employees contradicts the extended nature of sabbaticals, and minimizing the need for employee training is unrelated to providing sabbatical leave.