BT is trying to cut costs by offering parents the chance to spend school holidays with their children and only work during term time.

The company cut some 15,000 jobs last year and made a loss of £1.3billion in the first quarter of this year due to the recession. BT has come up with the "Time Out Options" in an effort to lower the number of jobs they have to cut.

Andy Kerr, of the Communication Workers Union praised the "summer sabbaticals" as a "great opportunity for staff to pursue travel, study or other activities while knowing they have a job to return to".

The communications giant has also offered staff a one-off payment to switch from full-time employment to part-time or 25% of their annual salary to go on holiday for one year.