What is sabbatical leave?

A sabbatical is an extended break from work that allows employees to pursue other personal or professional interests. It is distinct from other types of leave, such assick time  orPaid leave  .

Employees are not expected to work during this time, but they remain employed and may receive full or partial pay depending on their company's policy.

Which industries typically offer holidays?

Sabbaticals are most commonly associated with academia, but can also be taken in other professions.  Examples of industries and companies that offer sabbaticals  include:

• Technology and software development (e.g., Instacart, Skillshare, Maven Clinic)
• Marketing (for example, AWeber)
• Finance (e.g.,  Deloitte  , ABN AMRO Clearing USA LLC)
• Legal (e.g.,  Walker Morris  )
• Non-profits (e.g.,  the Durfee Foundation  )

How long does sabbatical leave last?

The length of leave varies by organization, ranging  from a few weeks to a year  , but is usually a few months. Paid leaves are usually shorter than unpaid leaves.

Benefits of Sabbatical Leave

Vacation is mutually beneficial for both employees and organizations, as it can help:

Reduce burnout

In many cases, a weekend or traditional week-long vacation may  not be enough to make tired employees  feel refreshed. Offering a sabbatical leave gives them a chance to take a longer break from their duties, which can help them feel well-rested and focused.

Increase employee satisfaction

Whether employees use their time off to relax or to accomplish other goals, such as volunteering abroad or conducting independent research, they will likely feel that the organization appreciates their hard work.

Improve retention

Vacation is a powerful  perk  that employers can offer to show that they care about their  employees' well-being  . It can motivate employees to stay with the company and enjoy an extended vacation after many years of service.

Lower recruitment costs

If the employee retention rate is high, the organization   can save significant time and money , since it will not have to recruit and hire large numbers of new employees.

Accelerating Professional Development

Allowing more experienced employees to take leave gives younger employees the opportunity to take on new projects, enhance their skills, and become leaders. Also, having a more experienced workforce overall can  help a company with succession planning for future vacancies  .

Establishing rest break rules and policies

If your company wants to develop a sustainable sabbatical program, here are some steps you can take to get started:

Determine eligibility and leave duration

Determine when employees are eligible for leave and how long the leave will be.

For example, as mentioned above, Instacart offers vacations to its employees as a reward. More specifically, it's called the Four Year Fill-Up initiative, as employees who have reached their four-year work anniversary are encouraged to take four weeks of vacation.

Decide on a compensation structure

Sabbatical leave can be either paid or unpaid. If your organization pays employees on leave, specify whether they will receive their full pay or a percentage of their regular pay.

set limits

Assign coverage

Determine which employees will replace the furloughed employees. This cross-training and  professional development  opportunity means your company will be better equipped to maintain productivity and achieve business goals while your more permanent employees are on leave.