Summary:
In the past, a gap year was seen as something enjoyed by newly graduated young adults wanting to get a taste of the world before settling down to the daily 9-to-5. However, that’s not the case any more, and an increasing number of grown-ups are discovering that taking a year out from work can bring huge personal rewards. This article looks at what to consider if you’re contemplating a gap year some years into your career.

Details or Sample:
Gap Year for Grown-Ups

An increasing number of people are deciding to step off the daily grind and take time out from their paid employment. A gap year is no longer the prerogative of graduates wanting to find themselves in the remotest parts of South East Asia before embarking on “real life.” More and more people are now either taking advantage of the wise financial choices they made earlier on in life to facilitate their time off work, or signing up to the sabbatical programs their employers are offering. And it’s not just employees who are discovering the benefits of sabbatical leave; employers are also finding that they can reap rewards by allowing their staff members time off to try something completely different to what they’re paid to do. However, if you’re tempted to take a gap year, there are a few issues you might want to consider before beating down your employer’s door with your sabbatical leave request.

Identify Your Reasons for Wanting Time Off

Your colleague’s obvious elation that he’s been granted sabbatical leave to undertake voluntary work in Africa doesn’t mean that it’s also the right thing for you to do. While you may hear about others taking time off for a host of what seem to be very worthy and good reasons, you need to have your own reasons for doing so before you go any further. Sabbatical leave is typically a year’s unpaid leave from your regular employment, although in some cases it can be six months. A year is a long time: a long time to be away from what is, in all respects, a “second home” to most, and a long time to be without a regular source of income. Some people, although they may not realize it, need the routine that comes with a daily job. When these people are left to their own devices, as they will be when taking a gap year, and have nothing planned for the period of leave, they can easily lose direction. However, if an individual is bored and de-motivated in his or her job, then taking a year out to try something different could be a life-saver (quite literally). Most people know why they want to take time off before applying for sabbatical leave, be it to volunteer on another continent, take up residence in a remote part of the country and write that novel that’s struggling to emerge, or stay put and dedicate all resources to finally getting a business venture off the ground. Regardless of why you want time off, knowing how you’re going to spend your sabbatical leave will help when it comes to submitting your request to your employer.

Submit Your Application

When requesting sabbatical leave from your employer, highlight all the ways in which he or she, and the company as a whole, will benefit from your taking time away from your job. For instance, it may offer someone else in the organization the chance of career progression: someone may get the opportunity to use the skills and competencies they possess, but are not already utilizing, by filling in for you while you’re away. Furthermore, a fresh pair of eyes can improve the way in which a job is undertaken, and which may not have changed for many years. Your employer may find that someone new in your role brings a new perspective.

Regardless of what you do while you’re away on your gap year, your employer will also benefit when you return to your post as you will almost certainly have gained new experience that will help you in your role. And if you left demoralized and de-motivated, there’s every chance you won’t return that way. While you’re away from work, your perspective will undoubtedly change as you’ll be able to look at your job from a distance. You may even start to appreciate those aspects of it that you were growing to hate.

Organize Your Affairs before Leaving

Once you’ve decided what to do during your year off, and your sabbatical leave request has been granted, you need to organize your affairs so that you can be free to enjoy what it is you’ve decided to do.

• If you own a property you intend to let during your period of leave, then arrange a lettings agent to manage it for you (this is especially important if you are going to be spending a significant period of time out of the country). Explain what your intentions are for the coming year and how he or she can contact you if necessary (e-mail is usually the quickest and simplest form of communication in these circumstances).

• Make sure you are able to conveniently access your money when you need it during your time off. Again, if you intend to spend time abroad, find out what the cheapest and easiest way is for you to access your funds. It’s much easier to do this when you’re still at home than it is when you are residing in another country, so don’t leave it until you’re settled into your sabbatical.

• Inform all the relevant organizations, such as your tax office and pension administrator, that you’ve taken unpaid leave from work. You may need to make special arrangements for some schemes while you’re not working.

• If you’re going to be living abroad, research as much as you can about the country you’ll be residing in, particularly its healthcare system. If necessary, take out a travel insurance policy to cover you in case of emergencies.

And then get ready to embrace an experience that could very well change your life forever.

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Written by: JD
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