Summary:
As the number of employees taking time out of work increases, the gap year is no longer seen as the prerogative of the graduate. You’ve got more chance of getting your sabbatical request granted if you can show your employer how they might gain from your time away. This article looks at how to do that. (Note. This article is written in UK English and refers to UK state benefits/tax procedures.)

Details or Sample:
What’s In It For Them?
You will undoubtedly have lots of reasons why your employer should grant you time off, but think about what they will gain by letting you go. It’s perhaps not wise to tell them that you’re so bored in your current position that if you don’t try something new you’re going to be leaving anyway – there’s little incentive for them to keep your position open for you if that’s going to be the case.

You will need to show why doing what you want to do during your sabbatical will make you not only a better person, but also a better employee – someone who will return to his or her role better equipped with additional talents and skills they’ve picked up while away, and which will enable them to carry out their job more creatively, efficiently, and productively.

Do Your Research
So before you go in to your boss and formally ask, decide what it is you want to do with your time off – and how long you want to take.

Some people try a different vocation, or some form of voluntary work - whether it’s in their own country or abroad - while others do something completely unrelated to work, such as travelling. The length of time off can vary from, say, three months up to 5 years – although 6 months to a year is probably more the norm.

Most sabbaticals are unpaid although they can be paid or part-paid – it all depends on what is agreed between employee and employer. If you know that your employer has previously “unofficially” granted sabbatical leave, try and find out as much information as you can. Similarly, if you know your employer has an official regulation regarding the granting of sabbatical leave then obviously read that first. However, a lot of organisations have no such protocols so it is up to the individual and the organisation to agree the terms and conditions.

The Negotiations
If your employer has no formal process for granting sabbaticals then your negotiating is important. The length of service you have with your company can also prove useful in securing your sabbatical. If you’ve been with the company for some time, then appeal to their good nature and remind them of the number of years you’ve served – in some respects, what you’re asking for is not a great deal different to what’s granted to employees taking extended unpaid maternity leave.

Also think how your employer is going to manage your workload while you’re away. Here there is the scope for career advancement for other employees in your organisation, and in requesting your sabbatical it’s good to highlight this: your employer will get good PR from this situation – every employer wants to be seen to be giving opportunities to employees to move up the career ladder.

It might also be worth asking any union rep or staff rep you might have for advice; they could have experience of having helped negotiate something similar for employees in the past.

(...article continues)

Purchase this content for your website...

Pricing:
Usage:	$20	[Add to Cart]

Downloads: 0
Written by: JD
Available File Types:Text
Words: 695