An educational institute’s success and reputation rest largely on the shoulders of its teachers and staff. The workforce ensures the smooth running of the school, taking it to greater heights as the backbone of the institution. To honour their commitment, we go above and beyond the payroll benefits and ensure long-term professional, personal, and financial wellbeing.
Training and development
Our employees are our assets. It is our aim that, along with the advancement of Udgam, the employees must also grow professionally and personally. Our training policy is designed to ascertain and fulfil the training needs of our employees. It enhances individual competencies continuously and builds a learning environment committed to the highest standards of excellence.
Training is necessary for continuous professional development and helps to upgrade knowledge to withstand the changing world.
We set aside a training budget for each employee to develop their skill sets, innovation, productivity, quality and profitability at the school’s expense.
Our training opportunities include:
- Workshops, seminars, certificate courses, or diploma/degree programs
- CBSE training sessions
- Group discussions, activity-based learning, and interschool teaching
- Yoga, meditation, and spiritual development programs
Employees are required to fulfil a minimum number of training hours each year. A well-trained teacher works smarter, achieves better learning outcomes, and contributes more confidently to the school environment.
Insurance, Funds, and Schemes
Udgam ensures that every employee and their family receive strong financial security throughout their career and beyond.
Provident Fund & Gratuity
- All employees receive Provident Fund (PF) contributions and gratuity as per law.
- Employees get pensions from their provident fund to facilitate their retirement years.
LIC’s Group Gratuity Scheme
- Under LIC’s New Group Gratuity Cash Accumulation Plan, employer contributions are pooled and managed by LIC to accumulate a fund that will pay out when an employee exits (retirement, resignation) or in other eligible circumstances (e.g. death, disablement).
- Importantly, beyond just reserving for gratuity, LIC’s scheme includes a “life cover” benefit: i.e. a Sum Assured (life-insurance component) is defined under the scheme rules for each employee.
What happens if an employee dies while in service
If an Udgam employee covered under the LIC group gratuity scheme dies before attaining normal retirement age (i.e. “while in service”), then:
- The nominee receives the gratuity benefit as per the scheme’s gratuity formula – irrespective of whether the 5-year continuous service condition is completed.
- Additionally, the “Sum Assured” (life-insurance cover) under the plan is paid out to the nominee. That is, on top of gratuity, there is a life-insurance payment.
- If the scheme includes any extra riders (for example accidental death benefit), those benefits will also be payable.
Thus, the employee’s family does not only get the standard gratuity payout, but also a guaranteed lump-sum life cover (Sum Assured), giving added financial protection in unfortunate cases.
How it makes a difference for employees (or their families)
- Financial security for the family: Losing a breadwinner is traumatic and financially destabilizing; gratuity + life cover provides a lump-sum cushion that can help with immediate financial needs or long-term obligations (children’s education, liabilities, etc.).
- No dependence on employee exit/retirement conditions: In cases of death while in service, families don’t have to worry about the “5-year rule” or “retirement/resignation” – the benefit becomes payable regardless.
- Transparency and guaranteed funding: Because the scheme is managed by LIC and the gratuity liability is “funded”, the money is protected under law.
- Possible tax benefit: Gratuity under a compliant scheme is typically eligible for certain tax exemptions under Indian tax law.
Having a LIC-based group gratuity scheme ensures long-term employee welfare – critical for staff trust, retention, and social security. In case of death of any staff, the scheme ensures their family is taken care of financially.
Health Insurance
- Health insurance up to ₹3,00,000 per year with no cooling period.
- Immediate support through our medical emergency tie-up with Zydus Hospital.
Group Personal Accident Insurance
- Covers temporary and permanent disablement from accidental injury.
- In case of accidental death, the nominated family member receives up to 24 months’ gross salary.
Death Benevolent Scheme
- A contributory scheme where employees donate one day’s basic salary to support the family of a deceased colleague.
- Designed to offer immediate financial relief during unforeseen tragedies.
All these insurances, funds and schemes are systematised to help our employees and their families financially in case of retirement, medical emergencies or even death.
STEWA
STEWA (School Teachers & Employees Welfare Association) is a trust headed by ex-teachers, current principals, and alumni of the school. Built on the principles of empathy and kindness for all, STEWA ensures that all employees gain benefits from the funds for medical reasons after their retirement.
A teacher lives many lives and fulfils many roles in their professional and personal lives. Teachers do not get enough credit, both metaphorical and financial. Due to government policies, the retirement age is fixed at 58. Increased life expectancy and skyrocketing costs of medical aid make it difficult for retired teachers.
The idea of STEWA is to share the burden of beneficiaries upon presentation of proper documentation. A robust alumni network at Udgam led to the inception of STEWA for all the teaching and non-teaching staff.
Retired members of the school can now apply to avail themselves of the funds. Upon the receipt of the application and scrutiny, funds will be duly allocated.
Eligibility:
Employees who have completed 3 or more years at Udgam School for Children can avail STEWA benefits after retirement.
On-time salary
Udgam has a 30+ years record of paying salaries on time. Never once in the last three decades have we been even a day late in crediting salaries. In fact, in 2020, we paid advance salaries, foreseeing the upcoming lockdown. This was done before the leaves were calculated in that month. We understood the needs of our employees in difficult times, and we acted on them.
As an organisation, we understand the emotional as well as financial burden of irregularities in income source and the support a regular and on-time salary can offer.
And more than the financial burden, we believe that a mind preoccupied with monetary afflictions will not be able to work with the stability and creativity that we strive for in our school. As a result, we aim to eliminate any and all causes of stress for our employees from our end.
Career Growth
In most institutions, the career pathway for a teacher is quite unclear, often shrouded in bias and unfair practices. At Udgam School, we believe in clarity of role before anything else, along with equality of opportunity.
A teacher at Udgam, after having spent a certain number of years, is eligible for the role of:
- Supervisor
- Vice-Principal
- Principal
Historically, all our principals and vice-principals have been chosen from our own teaching staff with only one exception. This warrants a clear career growth pathway where we groom our teachers to take on bigger roles in the future.
Teachers who join Udgam are assured of a future where ambition, skill, and dedication are rewarded without bias or ambiguity. The potential to grow professionally is what instils in educators the unwavering commitment towards work and the everlasting glimmer of curiosity and knowledge.
Established code of conduct
At Udgam, our management policies are written and accessible to all employees in our Employee Handbook. This handbook contains:
- Policies, procedures, and guidelines
- Responsibilities and legal obligations
- Benefits and rights
- Organisational culture and expectations
The purpose of this handbook is not just to set policies and stay compliant. Instead, it serves as a reminder of the company’s vision and purpose.
The handbook serves as a compass for all policies and procedures of the organisation. In addition to guidelines, the handbook will inform employees about what can be expected from management and leadership and the long-term benefits of working with the organisation.
A clear set of rules, policies, and guidelines helps the employees grow professionally in a safe and inspiring environment without conflicts resulting from unresolved bias, miscommunication, uncertain career pathways, ill-defined rules and regulations and such disadvantageous circumstances. We make sure that our employees have a conducive atmosphere to develop their skills while maintaining a fair and responsive environment.
Subsidised Laptops
When education is interlinked with technology, classes become more interesting both for the teacher as well as the student. It is possible to bring the world to your classroom with a flick, and animations, films, colourful images, and audio transform the classroom. Use of computers enables us to do more in less time while increasing productivity manifold.
At Udgam, we take pride in the fact that we have good technological support and tech-savvy teachers. Although most workplaces have the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy, we want to make it affordable for teachers to own a laptop.
Thus, we offer our teachers a 3-year interest-free EMI plan for the purchase of the laptop. The total cost will be recovered with 36 equal instalments, and no interest will be charged on the outstanding. This policy reduces the dependence of teachers on traditional chalk and board methods of teaching and allows them to embrace technological advancements in the field of education.
Compensatory Off
In many organisations, teachers are overworked without proper compensation. Such an environment creates dissatisfaction and exhaustion at the workplace. All our teachers are eligible for compensation for overtime work.
If any employee is required to work on any working day (beyond working hours), a weekly off or paid holiday, they are entitled to avail a compensatory off. Subject to prior approval, C-off will be credited under half-day C-off or full-day C-off based on the number of hours worked overtime.
Free AC Bus Transport
Our bus transport system is available for all teachers for free. What may seem like an ordinary benefit has proven to be:
- Safe, reliable, and comfortable daily commute
- Significantly time and cost saving
- Environment-friendly
- Hassle-free during rainy or extreme weather
Additionally, since teachers use bus transport with students, there are almost negligible chances of working overtime. While the use of school buses is optional, we encourage all to avail themselves of this facility to avoid traffic congestion and reduce the carbon footprint.
Homeopathy Clinic
At Udgam, we ensure rendering instant care to our students, as well as teachers, in case they get ill. Hence, a homeopathic clinic was set up in the year 2005 at the school, in association with Anubhuti Homeo Clinic, which provides homeopathic treatment to the students & staff members free of cost at the school.
Anubhuti Homeo Clinic has 10 branches across Gujarat and 40 years of expertise. The clinic is easily accessible on the school premises, and the treatment is given free of charge to our employees and students.
For teachers having minor complaints during school hours, the clinic can provide immediate remedy and save a visit to the doctor. Since medications are sublingual, they are easy to administer.
Teachers and students can receive immediate treatment for common issues such as:
- Cough and cold
- Headache
- Stomach-ache
- Allergies
- Minor injuries
Homeopathy acts by stimulating the body’s own healing mechanism as it activates the vital energies in our body.
Homeopathy does not have side effects and thus serves beneficially instead of conventional medication (allopathy). Psychological disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, personality and emotional disorders, and developmental problems can also be cured by homeopathy and regular counselling.
Events and celebrations
Udgam is the hub of all celebrations. Our campus hosts a wide range of events such as:
- Udgam na Garba
- Udgam Run
- Annual Quality Conference
- Teachers’ picnics and outings
- Food festivals, book fairs, Udgam Street, Udgam Haat
- And so much more!
These events embody our commitment to holistic development, community engagement, and cultural celebrations.
Award-Winning Workplace
Last year, our parent trust, Kantilal Jaikishandas Charitable Trust, received the Great Place to Work certificate, a badge of honour bestowed after rigorous assessments and multiple surveys. This recognition reflects our long-standing commitment to employee happiness, transparency, and welfare.
No other school in Ahmedabad offers such a complete package of professional, personal, and financial support where teachers enjoy guaranteed career growth, advanced training, and holistic wellness programs under one roof. This only further proves that Udgam School for Children really is the best place to work.