Sabbatical Leave: A Strategic Break from Work

clendar September 15, 2024

clendar 14 minutes

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A sabbatical leave is a formal, extended break from work—typically lasting from one month to a year—offered with the understanding that the employee will return to their role. Originally rooted in academia, sabbaticals are now increasingly available in corporate and nonprofit sectors. They are often used for research, education, travel, volunteering, or rest.

Or maybe you have a dream of travelling and exploring other parts of the world but are not willing to give up your career to do so? Well, a sabbatical leave could be the perfect answer to fulfil your dream or desire.

A sabbatical leave is a formal, extended break from work—typically lasting from one month to a year—offered with the understanding that the employee will return to their role. Originally rooted in academia, sabbaticals are now increasingly available in corporate and nonprofit sectors. They are often used for research, education, travel, volunteering, or rest.

If there was an option to take a sabbatical leave from work, 62% of people in the UK said they would take it. Taking an extended break helps them recover burnout from the workload and achieve personal interests, such as pursuing a higher academic degree, skills, or doing voluntary work.

Taking a sabbatical leave is not as rare as it once was before. Nowadays, it is not only limited to the educational sectors. A survey conducted in 2018 found that 15% of employers were offering sabbaticals, but only 5% provided paid sabbatical leave.

Read on! To know more about sabbatical leave and how to take one.

What is a Sabbatical Leave?

The meaning of sabbatical is “a break from work”. A sabbatical leave from work means a full break from work. This break is mutually agreed with your employer (sometimes through negotiation), above and beyond your annual leave entitlement. The employer or organisation does not expect you to report to them or perform regular job duties.

On sabbatical leave, employees can pursue their interests or do what suits them best. For instance, you can seek a higher academic degree or improve your writing, research, travelling skills. You can also do some volunteering work, even take a rest or other activities. However, you still will be employed by the company or the organisation.

This practice of sabbatical leave is common in educational institutions. For instance, a professor is taking a break from the university to teach at a foreign university. The leave can also be for a higher degree or research their field. But, nowadays, private companies are offering sabbatical leave to attract possible employees.

Why Do People Take Sabbatical Leave?

Sabbaticals leave are often very personal to every employee. Taking a sabbatical leave depends on you and your need for a break from work. Your own emotions can drive you to take a break, such as stress and exhaustion, desire to experience other things or earn a degree or desire to improve professional skills such as Communication Skills, Sales & Negotiation Skills, etc.

People from many different backgrounds, sectors, and stages of their careers can choose to take sabbaticals for several reasons.

The following are some of the most common reasons for taking a sabbatical leave:

Burnout recovery – Mental and physical rejuvenation
Career advancement – Gaining qualifications or leadership skills
Personal projects – Writing, entrepreneurship, or creative work
Volunteerism – Social impact or community service
Exploration – Traveling or self-discovery
Family and caregiving – Quality time or support needs

How Long Can You Take a Sabbatical?

How long you can take a sabbatical from work depends on the institution or organisation you work for. Some universities may allow this leave for six months, a year (called “sabbatical year”) or more. In private companies, the leave is much shorter and often not available. They may offer you one or more months of sabbatical leave, depending on their policy and employee service years.

There is no fixed limit on how often you can take a sabbatical leave. This leave depends on your relationship with your employer. Some companies may offer you one sabbatical every two years or every seven years or don’t. So before joining the company, read the policy and what benefits you will have there.

For example, Adobe offers four weeks of sabbatical leave to those who’ve been employed in the company for at least five years and five weeks to those who’ve completed ten years of service.

Duration varies by organization and industry:

Academia: Typically 6–12 months every 7 years
Corporate: 1–3 months after 5–10 years of service
Nonprofit/Government: Flexible, often tied to leadership roles

There are no legal limits on frequency, but most employers set internal policies on eligibility and intervals.

Advantages & disadvantages of sabbatical leave?

Sabbatical leave means an extended break from a full-time career or work. There are several reasons why taking a sabbatical leave from work is an excellent idea. For instance, it gives you the chance to focus on personal goals or career objectives. However, there are some serious drawbacks in taking a sabbatical. You should consider them before taking extended leave. For instance, there will be a job for you or not, when you return from leave. Also, can you cover your house rant, insurance, credit card and utility bills? The advantage and disadvantage of sabbatical leave are the following:

Advantage	Disadvantage
Recharge from stress and burnout	Possible career disruption
Time for personal or professional growth	Reduced or no income
Improve mental and physical health	Reintegrating into workplace routines
Gain qualifications or new skills	Risk of being replaced or reassigned
Deepen personal relationships or passions	Gaps in résumé, especially if unpaid
Fresh perspective and renewed motivation	Potential disconnect from team or industry

Do you get paid for sabbatical leave in the UK?

Generally, you will not get paid if you take sabbatical leave. There are no laws in the UK that specifically deal with career breaks or extended leave. It’s an agreement between the employer and the employee. According to the gov.uk, “A company or employer is not legally obligated to offer a career break”. But some companies offer sabbatical leave to employees after a certain length of service.

For example, Deloitte offers a three to six-month sabbatical program for career growth for their employees. This extended break allows you to volunteer or pursue professional or personal growth opportunities. The company also pays you 40% of your salary, while you are on sabbatical leave.

Paid Sabbaticals vs Unpaid Sabbaticals:

Paid Sabbaticals	Unpaid Sabbaticals
The employer continues to pay the employee’s wage.	There may be certain restrictions, such as prohibiting you from doing other types of paid work.
Generally, only offered to long-term employees.	Generally, leave offered to employees who have worked at their company for a minimum period, usually two years.
The company will pay a percentage or full salary.	For the sabbatical period, an employee’s pension and benefits will be suspended.

Am I Eligible for Sabbatical Leave?

You are eligible or not for a sabbatical leave entirely depends on the company policies. But the companies have to ensure that there is no discrimination against the employee and have a sabbatical policy. They also should consider all employee’s applications fairly and equally.

Often there are terms included in company sabbatical policies that help employees understand if they qualify. Below are the common examples of these terms:

Minimum service period (e.g., 5 years)
No recent disciplinary actions
Availability of role coverage

Most company policies prohibit you from working for another company while on sabbatical leave. Employers must ensure that leave policies are applied equitably and without discrimination.

Should you take a sabbatical?

This is a tough question to answer. Most companies or employers do not offer paid sabbatical leave, and every cent will go from your pocket. So, one person can’t take a sabbatical leave without having a healthy stash fund.

But if you have enough money to cover the vacation, your career would benefit from a bit of a refresh. If something you want to achieve or do outside of work, you could do it with a new perspective. For instance, wanting to travel and see the world, or want to learn something new.

How to take a sabbatical leave?

You should prepare a list of steps before asking for a sabbatical leave. Below are a few steps you can take to begin the process of preparation for sabbatical leave:

Step 1: Review your employer’s sabbatical policy

The first thing you need to do is review your employer’s sabbatical policy thoroughly and carefully. If your company offers one, find out how long you can be away, whether the leave is paid or unpaid, and what requirements must be fulfilled.

Check if there are any forms to complete, who you need to speak to, and what approvals are necessary.

So, take the time to understand the policy clearly, including what benefits you may lose and what obligations you must meet during your time away.

Step 2: Define your purpose, timeline, and plan

You should define your purpose, timeline, and plan clearly and thoughtfully before requesting a sabbatical. Consider why you want to take this leave, how long you plan to be away, and what you hope to achieve during this time.

Outline a realistic schedule, identify key milestones, and ensure your goals align with both personal aspirations and professional responsibilities.

So, create a well-structured plan that demonstrates foresight and preparation, helping your employer see the value and feasibility of your proposed sabbatical.

Identify the main purpose of your sabbatical (e.g., travel, study, personal development, volunteering).
Determine your ideal start and end dates.
Plan how your time will be spent, including major activities or goals.
Consider how your leave aligns with company timelines or peak work periods.

You are making it easy for your manager or employer to grant you a sabbatical leave by thinking about them beforehand.

Step 3: Prepare a proposal showing value to you and the organization

You should prepare a proposal showing the value of the sabbatical both to you and to the organization. Be clear about your goals, how the leave will support your professional growth, and how that growth can benefit your role upon return.

Include details such as timelines, activities planned during the sabbatical, and how you will maintain communication if needed.

So, make sure your proposal reflects a well-thought-out plan that aligns with the company’s interests and demonstrates your commitment to returning with renewed value.

Step 4: Schedule a formal discussion with HR/management

The next step is meeting your manager, HR or director. Think about what questions they might ask you, write them down and make sure you have the right answers.

Make your proposal to take a sabbatical leave. Tell your manager the benefits of taking a break and how this will impact the organisation positively. If not, try to negotiate a deal with your employer.

Step 5: Leave respectfully & Be flexible

You should finalize all documentation and your transition plan thoroughly and on time. Ensure all required forms are completed, signed, and submitted to the appropriate departments or personnel.

Prepare a clear handover plan, including task delegation, timelines, and points of contact during your absence.

So, work closely with your manager and team to ensure a smooth transition and uninterrupted workflow while you are on leave.

Step 6: Organise your farewell party and start packing!

You should begin your sabbatical with intention and clarity, making the most of this valuable time away. If relevant to your goals, document your journey through notes, journals, or other media to reflect on your experiences and growth.

Stay mindful of any commitments you’ve made to check in or provide updates during your leave.

So, use this time to recharge, pursue your objectives, and gather insights that may benefit both you and your organization upon your return.

What will you need to do afterwards?

It will be great for your career if you prepare yourself and set your goals beforehand. At the end of your sabbatical leave, the following tips can help and prepare you to take advantage of your career breaks later in your career:

Update your CV. You should include any courses, qualifications and experiences you’ve had, such as volunteering, which may help you during your search.
Think about the best way- how you can sell the benefits of your extended leave to a potential employer.
If you want to change your career path, think about how you can build on your sabbatical leave experience to make the perfect move.
List the contacts you have made during your sabbatical leave, whom you could speak later to about work opportunities or collaboration.

Here are some courses you can take to improve your professional skills with One Education while you are on sabbatical leave.

Enrol Now:
1. Python 3.9 Coding Skills
2. Professional Training on Sales Skills
3. Sales & Negotiation Skills

Reintegrating After Sabbatical

You should reintegrate after your sabbatical thoughtfully and professionally. Return with a readiness to re-engage, and take time to reconnect with your team, review any changes, and get up to speed with ongoing projects.

Share key insights or experiences from your time away if they’re relevant and valuable to your role or the organization.

Ease back into your responsibilities with a fresh perspective, and show your commitment to contributing with renewed energy and focus.

Debrief with your team
Share insights or skills gained
Update your CV and internal records
Adjust expectations for transition

Closing note

The feelings of sabbatical leave can be fulfilling, scary, and unique. It takes determination, courage, and a supportive employer to make it happen. Taking a leave from work for an extended time could be the best thing you ever do and for your career.

What are you waiting for? Take a break from work to fulfil your interest or dreams and recharge your mind and body. Cheers!