Career break policy

If you want to offer career breaks to your staff, it is essential you have a good career break policy.

A formal career break policy ensures that:

• All staff are treated fairly when they apply for a sabbatical
• Your employees know what they can and can't do on a career break
• There are no surprises for either you or the employee on their return

Your sabbatical or career break policy must include the following:

• How long an employee must have worked at your company to qualify for a sabbatical
• The maximum length of the sabbatical
• Whether or not you guarantee the employee's job, or just a similar job at the same level
• What staff should or cannot do on a career break
• The salary they are returning to
• What happens to the employees' other benefits, eg pension
• Whether or not employees has to commit to a certain period of service on their return
• Whether or not the sabbatical is paid
• If sabbaticals are offered on equal terms to all staff
• How much flexibility you are prepared to offer

When you have drawn up your career break policy, decide how staff will apply for a career break. Will you encourage an informal discussion with a line manager first? You will need to draw up career break application forms and establish a signing-off procedure. Some things you may wish to include on the form:

• When do you want to take your career break?
• How long will your career break be?
• What do you plan to do on your career break?
• What practical skills will you learn which will benefit the company?
• What soft skills will you learn and what benefits will these bring to your job?
• How do you plan to organise cover during your absence?

When you have finalised your career break policy and application form, make sure you communicate this new policy to your staff. Tell them why you have decided to introduce this policy and the benefits you hope it will bring to the company. You may also choose to communicate this in your recruitment literature.

Need more help?

We can come to your office to give your staff a talk on the benefits of career breaks, and the sorts of things they can do. All talks include handouts for each staff member, plus a special pack for the HR manager.

Email us on info@thecareerbreaksite.com or call 0161 4488846 to find out more.

Need more help with your career break policy?

Find out about career break consultations.

• Back to top
• Back to Employer information