A week's break in the sun can often leave us feeling like we need another holiday to get over it. And, whether retirement is on the horizon or not, the finality of leaving work for good can be daunting. But for those who are yearning to explore life in a little more detail but aren’t ready to hang up the work shoes just yet, there is another option: the sabbatical.
Many employers offer the opportunity to take unpaid leave – usually up to 12 months – and hold your job open for you until you’re ready to pick up where you left off. Which begs the question: what’s in it for them?
Well, quite a lot, actually. Although employers may not actively promote the opportunity to take an extended break, those who do find themselves with employees who return to work with new skills, more experience and a refreshed attitude to work.
Sounds appealing?
Make your case
Ahead of speaking to your manager, make sure you’re very clear about the reasons you want to take an extended break. And when you do have the floor, stress that you don’t want to leave but would like to take time out for self-improvement.
Explain that you’re keen to return as someone with more experience in a particular area or areas: a new or improved foreign language, experience of a different culture, or learning a whole new skillset. Whatever your reason, frame the conversation as an opportunity for development that can be mutually beneficial.
Help someone else up the ladder
Your sabbatical could also be someone else’s opportunity to step up. If you can identify a junior colleague who could be developed into a more senior role in your absence, this will ultimately benefit the organisation. You’ll probably need to put in some time getting them ready to step into your shoes, but that in itself can be a satisfying way to expand your skillset.
If you can approach your manager with your ideas, explain how it could work and sketch out some development work for your suggested replacement, you’re presenting a much stronger case that’s more likely to be favourably received.
Honesty is always the best policy
If you want to leave work but aren’t quite ready to take the plunge, a sabbatical isn’t the right way to go about it. If you’re unhappy in your job, then you’re not going to develop a fondness for it after six months of trekking around South America. Think carefully about your reasons for wanting an extended break from work. If it’s simply because you’re not happy, then it’s time for some honest reflection to identify why. A sabbatical won’t help – it will just delay the inevitable.
Be prepared to negotiate
Asking for a sabbatical is a negotiation with your employer: it should include give and take and will probably need compromises. If the initial answer is no, ask if it’s something that could be considered at a later date, or what circumstances need to be in place to accommodate your request. If it’s clear that it’s not an option, then you can make an informed decision about what to do next with your career.
Make it formal
If you successfully negotiate a sabbatical that all parties are happy with, be certain to get it all in writing well in advance of any time off. Include the timing, the notice periods, the expectations and the rights and obligations of each party.
Don’t blindly sign the first thing that’s put in front of you. Read any agreement carefully, take legal advice if possible, and ensure that you’re not committing yourself to a situation you might find difficult to get out of – life doesn’t always turn out how we expect.
Ultimately, it’s in the employer’s interest to have someone on the team who’s mature and ambitious enough to negotiate a sabbatical to develop their skills or expand their world view. As long as you’re clear about your reasons and honest with yourself about wanting to return, it could be in everyone’s best interest to let you go.
