What are sabbaticals and why should you consider taking one?
As employees, we often prioritise our professional lives at the expense of our personal growth. But what if there was a way to press pause, step back, and invest in ourselves? Enter the sabbatical – a powerful tool for rejuvenation, self-discovery, and unlocking your full potential.
19th Dec 2022
Sabbaticals are extended periods of leave that are typically granted to employees for the purpose of rest, rejuvenation, or personal development. Sabbaticals might be taken for a number of reasons, such as to pursue academic goals, to travel, or to take a break from work to focus on personal growth.
Sabbaticals may be given as part of an employment contract or company benefits scheme and may also vary depending on the length of service at a company. It may be granted regularly, such as every seven years. In other cases, sabbaticals may be negotiated individually between the employee and employer.
During a sabbatical, the employee is typically not required to perform any work-related duties or responsibilities. Sabbaticals are often seen as a way to retain talented employees and prevent burnout, as they provide a break from the day-to-day stresses of work.What are the benefits of sabbaticals?
As employees, we often prioritise our professional lives at the expense of our personal growth and fulfillment. But what if there was a way to press pause, step back, and invest in ourselves? Enter the sabbatical – a powerful tool for rejuvenation, self-discovery, and unlocking your full potential.
1. Recharge and prevent burnout
One of the most significant benefits of taking a sabbatical is the opportunity to recharge your batteries and prevent burnout. By stepping away from the daily demands and stressors of work, you can give yourself the time and space to rest, reflect, and reconnect with your passions and purpose. This period of rejuvenation can help you return to work with renewed energy, focus, and motivation.
2. Broaden your perspective
Sabbaticals often involve travel, new experiences, and exposure to different cultures and ways of thinking. By immersing yourself in new environments and engaging with diverse people and ideas, you can broaden your perspective and gain valuable insights that can inform your personal and professional growth. This can help you approach challenges and opportunities with fresh eyes and innovative solutions.
3. Personal and professional growth
A sabbatical is a unique opportunity to invest in your personal and professional growth. Whether you choose to pursue further education, develop new skills, or explore a passion project, this dedicated time for learning and development can help you expand your knowledge, capabilities, and confidence. By returning to work with new skills and insights, you can position yourself for greater success and fulfilment in your career. 📈💡
4. Spark creativity and innovation
Stepping outside your routine and comfort zone can be a powerful catalyst for creativity and innovation. By exposing yourself to new experiences, ideas, and challenges, you can stimulate your mind and tap into new sources of inspiration. This can lead to breakthrough ideas, fresh approaches to problem-solving, and a renewed sense of purpose and passion in your work.
5. Relook at your work-life balance
Taking a sabbatical can help you reassess your priorities and create a more sustainable work-life balance. By stepping away from work and focusing on personal growth and well-being, you can gain clarity on what truly matters to you and make intentional choices about how to allocate your time and energy. This renewed sense of balance and purpose can lead to greater happiness, fulfilment, and overall quality of life.
10 companies offering sabbatical leave
1. Blood Cancer UK: A UK-based charity dedicated to funding research into all blood cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
2. Impression: A digital marketing agency with a hybrid-working approach that aims to empower people to work from the environment that best suits them.
3. Atom Bank: The UK’s first app-based bank to help people make the most of their savings, apply for a mortgage or take out a loan for your business, we provide simple, secure products that can make a difference.
4. By Miles:A car insurance company on a mission to make driving fairer.
5. Perlego: Perlego's ambition is to become the world’s online learning library, a single place where learners can instantly access all of the world’s academic content for less than the price of a single book.
6. Attest: Attest is the consumer research platform that puts trustworthy insights in more people's hands.
7. Mars: Mars is an American multinational manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products and a provider of animal care services.
8. SilverRail Technologies: A technology company building the digital infrastructure for global rail with a vision to change the way people move by making rail easy for travellers to buy and for agencies and operators to sell.
9. Emerald Publishing: Emerald Publishing is one of the world's leading digital-first publishers, commissioning, curating and showcasing research that can bring about real change.
10. Client Earth: Blip develops software, mobile apps, web platforms and retail applications for betting and gaming.How to find a job that offers sabbatical leave
Finding a job that offers sabbatical leave is simple with Flexa! Our platform offers comprehensive search filters to help you discover the perfect role and explore potential employers. We've simplified the process into five simple steps to kickstart your search:
- Start by creating a Flexa profile to stay updated on all available hybrid job opportunities, and even get recommendations straight to your inbox!
- Explore our sabbatical jobs page to see which companies are currently hiring for hybrid roles.
- When you find a role you're interested in, simply click on it to read the full job description and hit 'apply now' when you're ready to submit your application.
- If you're not ready to apply just yet, you can save the job to your profile for later.