Indian fintech firm offers employees 7 days of break-up leave to deal with heartbreaks

Bengaluru-based fintech company StockGro has introduced a break-up leave policy allowing employees to take up to seven days off after the end of a significant relationship.

The policy, announced in April 2024, gives employees a week to deal with the emotional upheaval following a break-up or divorce, with the company saying they would not be questioned or required to submit proof to take the leave.

Employees who feel they need more time can also discuss an extension with management, according to reports about the policy.

StockGro founder Ajay Lakhotia said the company viewed its employees as a family and wanted to support them during difficult periods in their personal lives.

The policy is built around trust, with employees not required to provide evidence of the relationship ending before taking the leave. The company said the time off was intended to give employees an opportunity to regain emotional balance before returning to work.

The seven-day provision has drawn attention because workplace leave is generally associated with illness, family responsibilities, bereavement or other conventional reasons, while relationship break-ups are rarely recognised through a specific leave category.

StockGro's policy reflects a broader question facing employers: whether emotional distress following major personal events should be treated as a legitimate reason for time away from work.