What is a sabbatical?
A sabbatical is an extended leave from work. It can be used for a variety of reasons, like to focus on an employee’s health or for developing skills that can be beneficial to their career. Sabbaticals generally last between two months and a year, and they can be paid or unpaid.
What you’ll learn:
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Sabbaticals can look different from industry to industry and company to company.
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Institutions dedicated to academics and science are well known for offering sabbaticals.
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A sabbatical can be paid, partially paid or unpaid, depending on an organization’s policy.
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Sabbaticals offer advantages for both employees and employers. For example, they can give employees a renewed sense of purpose at work, and employers a tool for attracting and retaining talent.
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Sabbaticals are different in key ways from standard paid time off (PTO), vacation, sick time and furloughs.
What’s the purpose of a sabbatical?
Employees may use sabbaticals for a variety of reasons. They may want to use the time off to pursue professional development or improve their work-life balance. At colleges and universities, where sabbaticals are common, professors and other academics use sabbaticals for activities like writing and research.
From an employer’s perspective, employees may return energized and bring more passion to their roles after the time away. They can be an effective tactic for helping combat burnout.
How does a sabbatical work?
How a sabbatical works depends on the organization. But here’s the general process for employees:
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Determine eligibility. To take a sabbatical, you’ll want to review the qualifications set by the organization’s policies. And requirements may differ widely between employers.
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Discuss the sabbatical idea and its purpose with your employer. Some organizations may ask you to explain why you want to take a sabbatical. Indeed suggests making a list of how time away could benefit both you and the employer.
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Agree on terms. You and your employer should have an understanding of how long you’ll be away, when you’ll take your sabbatical, what you’ll be focusing on and whether you’ll be paid.
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Evaluate your finances. Your employer may offer your full salary during a sabbatical. But if it doesn’t, consider how that could impact your finances. And if your employer doesn’t offer you full benefits, consider your options.
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Provide adequate notice. Regardless of the purpose behind your sabbatical, most employers require formal notice so they can plan for coverage while you’re on leave.
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Take your leave. Once your employer has agreed to the terms of your sabbatical, you’re free to make the most of your time away.
How long is a sabbatical?
According to Indeed, sabbaticals usually last between two months and a year, with the average being six months. The exact time frame depends on the organization and the employee’s role.
Do you get paid during a sabbatical?
It’s possible. Sabbaticals fall into two broad categories: paid and unpaid.
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Paid sabbatical: Paid sabbaticals offer compensation during the leave. Sabbatical packages vary by employer. Some sabbaticals will offer employees full pay throughout their leave, while others may offer a percentage of their salary.
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Unpaid sabbatical: Unpaid sabbaticals permit workers to take time off from their job but don’t allow them to continue drawing their salary.
Benefits of a sabbatical
Sabbaticals can offer valuable benefits to both employees and employers.
A sabbatical can help an employee by offering:
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Increased well-being
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Educational growth
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Renewed professional enthusiasm
Sabbaticals can benefit employers in these ways:
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Increased employee satisfaction and retention
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Improved talent acquisition
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Enhanced organizational reputation
Sabbatical FAQ
Here are a few common questions about sabbaticals.
What qualifies as a sabbatical?
Sabbaticals can vary in their specifics. But generally speaking, a sabbatical is a type of employer-approved leave. The leave may or may not be paid, but you should be able to return to your job at the end of it.
What’s the difference between a sabbatical and a vacation?
When an employee takes PTO, they generally receive their full salary during that time off. But a sabbatical may or may not be paid leave. Sabbaticals are also usually longer than standard vacations.
What’s the difference between a sabbatical and a furlough?
A sabbatical is a type of leave that’s mutually agreed upon by an employer and their employee. A furlough is a mandatory, temporary leave of absence an employee is required to take from their job.
Can I afford to take a sabbatical?
If your employer offers paid sabbaticals, affordability may not be an issue for you. But if it doesn’t, you may want to plan ahead. For example, you might want to open a savings account dedicated to your sabbatical right away. The funds you save could help cover things like your living expenses and the cost of training and education.
Key takeaways: What is a sabbatical?
Sabbaticals can benefit both employees and their employers. They can help contribute to everything from a new sense of purpose for employees to an enhanced reputation for their organizations.
Sabbaticals can be an important part of an organization’s benefits package—one that could help attract and retain talent. Learn about other employee fringe benefits, like tuition assistance, PTO and more, that can be attractive to prospective employees.
