Let’s continue our discussion about taking a sabbatical. A sabbatical beginning sometime in 2010 is realistic if you begin planning for it now. Arranging your life in order to create such an opportunity is difficult –- particularly in these recessionary times -- but doable. Because we live in a culture that focuses largely on the short term, most people don’t look forward more than a few months. Companies focused on the current quarter’s earnings don’t generally think about their employees taking time off, other than for a short vacation. Your boss isn’t going to hand you a sabbatical. You have to make it happen.
Start by figuring out what you want to do. Determine the length of time off you want and figure out when would be the best time to take it. Determine for yourself the means by which you expect to live. Will you use savings or does your company offer salary continuation for certain kinds of leave? Some companies, for example, may continue to pay you during your sabbatical if the time off is deemed family leave. Then think about what your absence will mean for your employer. How will your work get done? Will a colleague pick up your work, can a temporary employee be brought in, or can the work remain stalled while you are away? Consider all these questions before approaching your boss, at least one year before the onset of the sabbatical.
Some employers will work with you while others will not. Even if you work for a sympathetic employer, however, you need to be flexible. The employer might suggest a different time frame; it might guarantee a job when you return, but not necessarily the same job. Or, the employer might say: “Absolutely not. Forget it!” In this case, an employee has to look hard at his or her career and decide what’s important in life.
Anyone can take a sabbatical if they are willing to quit their job and go unemployed for the duration of the time off. This is a difficult option, but it is feasible for people who have financial support from a spouse, relative or personal savings. A subsequent return to the workforce upon completion of a sabbatical may mean a different job, perhaps even at a lower salary. This is a significant cost but the benefits of a rejuvenating sabbatical also are significant. More to come…
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