What is Sabbatical Leave?
The meaning of “Sabbatical” derives from the Hebrew word “Sabbath” – the day of the week set aside for rest during which time no work may be done.
A sabbatical is a time period of paid or unpaid leave that is granted to an employee if they need to study, travel, or engage in an essential activity for a certain amount of time. This period of time off from work is very common in the case of higher education settings like academic organizations.
This leave is usually granted after five to seven years of services, depending upon the policies of the company. During this period of Sabbatical Leave, the employee is still a part of the company and their job remains safe with them. However, the monetary benefits may vary as per the regulations of the organization.
34 of the “100 Best Workplaces in Europe” offer paid sabbaticals. Source: Great Places to Work Institute.
What does Sabbatical mean?
Sabbatical refers to a period of leave from work. When an employee takes a sabbatical leave they get to stay off duty for a certain declared amount of time. During this leave duration, they are still employed in the company (or organization) but they are not expected to fulfill their normal work and duties.
This leave can be taken by employees for various reasons like pursuing a degree, travelling, or any such activity which requires them to take absolute leave from work, for a certain amount of time.
How long is a Sabbatical?
The duration of a Sabbatical Leave depends upon the requirement of the employee and the regulations of the organization. These leaves can range anywhere between 2 months to 2 years. However, in the case of paid leaves, the duration is restricted to a few days whereas in the case of unpaid leave the duration is comparatively longer.
How does Sabbatical work?
A sabbatical leave is not commonly granted to every employee of the company or the organization. Only employees who have served the company for more than five years qualify to request a this leave. However, the time of service required to entitle the employee to apply for it might vary from one organization to another, depending upon their policies.
In order to avail their leave, the qualified employee is required to present an application to the company in a way that gives them at least three months of prior notice. In some companies, the time for a prior application might even be six to eight months.
Once the application reaches the admin, they check the criteria of qualification, current work status of their company, and their action plan in the absence of their employee, before approving it.
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There are companies that grant paid sabbatical leaves to their employees. Some companies allow leave up to four weeks, to their employees. If they have been serving the company for more than five years. There are also a few companies which offer up to six-months of leave or an entire year depending upon their policies and the requirement of their employee.
In order to prepare for the absence of the employee, the companies either look for their temporary substitutes or divide the work amongst other employees to cover for the projects and tasks of the employee.
Some organizations grant sabbaticals only within a certain period since the employee becomes eligible to take a sabbatical while some organizations require the employee to sign a commitment contract for a specific period after they return from the break.
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Is Sabbatical Leave paid or unpaid?
The payment factor of a sabbatical leave is entirely up to the decision of the enterprise. Some companies grant paid leaves to their employees while some prefer unpaid leaves. In some organizations, the past work, contribution and a work report of the employee play a major role in deciding whether or not the leave will be a paid one.
Benefits of a Sabbatical
Professional Growth
These leaves are a great option for employees to safeguard their jobs and invest their time in pursuing courses which enhance their portfolio and professional outlook.
Creative getaway
For an employee who has been professionally devoted for years, it serves as a deserving getaway. It allows the employee to relax and live sometime off the corporate hustle. This also rejuvenates them for future ventures and gives them detox from the constant pressure of work life.
Sabbatical Leave Policy
Sabbatical Leave Policies vary from one company to another. Each organization declares its criteria from eligibility to convenience and benefits for the employee applying for a leave.
Here are some of the highlights of a Sabbatical leave policy :
Reason for the leave
Consider a company A and another company B. A allows its employees to avail sabbatical leave for two specific reasons – health and education. The company does not have any restrictions for the reason for the leave. From vacationing, a world tour to educational purposes, company B allows its employees to avail sabbatical leave.
Period of Service
Another instance where the policies vary can be in the terms of the eligibility criteria for an employee to apply for the sabbatical leave. In some companies, the minimum time of work devoted to the company should be three years while some companies require a time period of five or more years.
Monetary benefits
Some enterprises and institutions allow their employees to avail a paid sabbatical leave. While a few companies process a fraction of the regular salary in the employee’s account, there are many companies which provide the full amount or simply grant a non-paid sabbatical leave.
Future Commitments
A very important factor of Sabbatical leave policy is the future commitment that the employee makes to the company. Depending upon the company’s set of regulations, they require the employee to sign legal papers where they commit a stipulated time period of work after they return from their sabbatical leave.
If you wish to introduce a Sabbatical Leave Policy for your employees, you must ensure that you present a detailed set of information for them. You must start with explaining your company’s understanding and your take on it and further highlight the eligibility criteria and commitment you require from the employees.
Paid vs Unpaid Sabbatical leave
| Paid Sabbatical leave | Unpaid Sabbatical leave |
| Paid Sabbatical leave is granted to employees who have served the company for a duration of five to seven years. | Unpaid Sabbatical leave can be availed by employees even if they have served the company for a period of two years. |
| It include an element of commitment to the company for a stipulated period of time after the employee’s leave comes to an end. | Unpaid leave does not include an element of paperwork and future commitment. |
| Companies usually grant paid leaves only for certain purposes like pursuing an educational degree or health conditions. | Unpaid leaves are usually more lenient and can be availed for purposes like long vacations and world tours. |
Conclusion
Sabbatical Leave is a great way of allowing an employee to pursue their aspirations and take a leave from their regular work schedule. It also allows the enterprise to evaluate and manage work distribution in the absence of their experienced employees.