ClickAJob News

Sabbatical Advice THESE days the office has replaced home life for many of the UK�s workforce. The constant demands of international business in the 21st century, has resulted in the loss of much free time, previously taken for granted. In some cases, higher wage packets act as a form of compensation for ever growing working hours, but for some employees, time has become the new money, with free time becoming priceless. This trend for longer working hours has led to the rising popularity of the �sabbatical�. A prolonged break from work can act as a breathing space and a way to experience a different way of life. There is no question that sabbaticals can benefit both employers and employees, but how can these benefits be taken advantage of by both parties? Staff at online job board, ClickAJob.co.uk, have taken some time to research the issue to find out just where employees stand when they consider taking a sabbatical from work. Why take a sabbatical? Sometimes a two-week holiday is not long enough to take that once-in-a-lifetime trip to Australia � why travel such a long way for such a short period of time? Travel is one of the most common reasons for people to take a sabbatical. Where to start? Any career break, no matter how temporary, needs a huge amount of background research. There is no law stating what an employee is entitled to when it comes to sabbaticals. Everything will be a voluntary arrangement between you and your employer. But, there are a few things you will need to decide first: � Decide how long you want to take off � how will you best make use of the time to enhance your life? � Decide what you want to achieve/gain from the experience. � Identify the benefits for your employer and the learning experiences you will bring back to work. � Say how your leave can be organised � and who will cover for you while you are away. Once your sabbatical has been agreed, you will need to: � Plan how you will keep in touch with your colleagues and what is happening in your industry. � Agree to a programme of review meetings or emails to ensure that the sabbatical is going as planned and to identify any problems. � Decide how you will organise your return to work. Will you need a mentor? Will you need retraining? Benefits to an employer: The sabbatical is one way of keeping employees that might be tempted to find a new job in the New Year� � Great way of saving money when business is slack. � Sabbaticals can be used as a way of rewarding long service. � They can provide an opportunity for an employee to gain new skills. � Can help prevent a mid career burn out. � They can keep a person active and productive. Problems: � Reactions of colleagues: Tell your colleagues about your plans well in advance. Keep them informed as to what you are doing and choose a good time to take your leave � when will be convenient for everyone. � Employment rights: You must remain an employee of the company to make sure your service is counted as continuous when you return. This will also protect you from redundancy while you are away. You will only have the same rights as everyone else if you can prove that your continuity of employment was not broken. � Worried about losing touch: You can keep up with the news from work by getting the in-house magazine sent to you, keeping an eye on the company website and emailing colleagues and business contacts. CEO of ClickAJob, Yngve Traberg, said: �If you�re worried about losing staff who might be tempted to wander in the New Year, offering sabbaticals are a great way of rewarding their dedication to your company. �They can benefit both parties. They ensure you retain your staff and they give your employees an opportunity to experience a new way of living, really see another country or learn new skills � returning to work with a fresh and positive outlook on life.� Joanna Jarlett, ClickAJob