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Has anyone here taken (or are planning to take) a sabbatical from work to do extended travel? If so how many months/years was it and what was your age at the time you did it? Did you quit your job and find one when you got back or did you get the time off from your employer?
I had a 6-week sabbatical (to which I added an additional 2 weeks of PTO) and it was part of the standard benefit for the company I was working for at the time.
I had a 6-week sabbatical (to which I added an additional 2 weeks of PTO) and it was part of the standard benefit for the company I was working for at the time.
What exactly is the difference between a 6-week sabbatical and 6 weeks in paid vacation time?
What exactly is the difference between a 6-week sabbatical and 6 weeks in paid vacation time?
PTO is accrued as you go.
The (paid) sabbatical is a one-time event that needs to be taken within a year after you qualify for one.
They're not related. At least in that company I was working for.
God I wish I could go on a travel sabbatical. The only way I could get time off here is if I used my paid vacation leave (which would give me only 4 weeks and then I'd have nothing but sick time for the rest of the year) or if I went on some type of medical leave and then traveled on the D.L. lol
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Intel used to allow / provide sabbatical (maybe still do)
3 months is really minimum, I prefer 6+
Do it every 7 yrs, or as often as possible
I did MANY 'sabbaticals', as we homeschooled and took 6-12 week field trips.
I purposely worked 30 yrs of nightshift so everyday I had off!
Usually 'time without pay', or LOA (minimal, cuz have to pay benefits if doing this) To retain benefits,,, I would take 19 days off w/o pay (1 day short of a month) and then one day vacation (adjacent to a paid holiday preferred), then another 19 days w/o pay.
I also volunteered for all the foriegn work assignments that came up. Thus the company PAID for travel for my entire family. (work was always very tough and LONG hours... I was not a manager... just a worker grunt / technology / skilled job). We traveled every week while on foreign assignment. Did Europe, Asia, and Canada. (Just returned from 8 month assignment in Thailand / Malaysia / China / Singapore.
Often we would team with a mission / orphanage so our kids could have some 'purpose / activity' with direct cultural immersion.
We also had our kids design and build their own houses as home school projects (and to earn college money), I took a few months off for that too.
Leaving work often is good for your attitude!
In 32+ yrs I took less than 15 days sick (except for a surgery gone bad...). Thus I had a payout for hundreds of hours of sick leave (more travel $$). But greedy CEO took my Sick Leave and 'doubled-down' in Monte Carlo.
I would have LOVED to have been able to take a sabbatical back in my early 30s. I had a high-pressure job and REALLY NEEDED some time off, besides the week or two of vacation that I took. I wouldn't have expected to be paid for it, I just wanted some time to travel the world a little. But in my position and with my (non-working, retired) partners, it just wouldn't have been possible.
I finally left at age 35, selling out of a very healthy and growing $multi-million business and, as it turned out, ending my chosen career, because I needed a little break.
I think a smart business (of decent size) would offer a 6-month sabbatical to its key employees every 5 years, or a 12-month one in 10 years if one prefers. It would be tough doing without a key employee for that long, but businesses always make-do if one gets sick. Or quits. A sabbatical would rejuvenate an employee and be one heck of a fringe benefit. I've been offered lots of jobs over the years, but none ever offered a sabbatical... or I'd have taken the job!
It would be tough doing without a key employee for that long, but businesses always make-do if one gets sick. Or quits.
The thing is that if a key employee with lots of knowledge quits the downtime alone would be 6 months for a company to find a replacement, then get them up to speed. And this assumes a perfect scenario. There is no guarantee that the new person who joins will be half as good, may have personality issues with the team and not work out, may quit the job after 2 months etc. - a tremendous risk for the company.
Some companies are just short sighted and foolish in not allowing a valued employee an extended break if they so desire. Perhaps 6 months is a bit long, but I think a 4 month break after 5 years of service is not unreasonable at all.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,724 posts, read 58,067,115 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by k374
...
Some companies are just short sighted and foolish in not allowing a valued employee an extended break if they so desire. Perhaps 6 months is a bit long, but I think a 4 month break after 5 years of service is not unreasonable at all.
now to convince the business owner / manager / investors / bankers / HR of your thoughts...
My company employed school teachers during the summer breaks to keep them engaged with local industry. Thus employees had the latitude to find and train a teacher to fill in for them, and the employee could take the summer off without pay. I did that several yrs to help my aged grandfather farm.
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I did that several yrs to help my aged grandfather farm.
