Sabbatical: Take a sabbatical leave

• Definition, Explanation
• Tips, Checklist

Sabbatical is a working time model which enables you to drop out of your job for a longer period of time (3 - 12 months), and return to your post after that phase. The basis of this model is defined in the Teilzeit- und Befristungsgesetz (TzBfG), valid since Jan 1st, 2001, which allows a flexible management of working time. However, this is only possible in companies with more 15 employees and if you have worked in this company for more than 6 months. The TzBfG does not include a legal claim. A Sabbatical can be rejected by the CEO of the company due to operational reasons at any time.

Reasons for a longer absence from the job might be:

• Measures of further education
  • Master Craftsman, MBA or Promotion
  • Learning languages
  • Studies or other apprenticeships
• Personal projects
  • Construction of a building
  • Extension of parental leave or nursing of a family member
  • long-term travelling
  • Re-orientation or new orientation (e.g. incloisters)
  • long-term voluntary dedication in non-profit projects
  • Burnout

Even with a lack of legal claim for a Sabbatical, many companies offer their employees the possibility of a „Time-Out“. The reasons for this vary from compensating fluctuations in orders to avoiding cancellations and a stronger staff retention. Companies increasingly get a more positive attitude towards these time-outs, and large companies use this method to commit their specialists to the company. Consequently, there are various programmes which are defined in working contracts, collective agreements or company agreements. Sabbatical can also be found among clerks, especially among teachers and university professors.

Such time-outs can be taken in various ways:

• Utilization of lifetime accounts
  Over a longer period of time, a plus of working hours is saved. This can be done by overtime hours or holidays which have been saved. However, legal regulations such as the maximum working hours per day or holidays before April 1st of the following year must remain respected
• Special forms of part-time
  There are models in which you will work 40 hours per week for a period of 3 years but will only get paid for 30 hours per week. You may then take the 4th year off, but still get paid
• Unpaid leave
  Cancelling the current job and taking an unpaid break until the new job commences
• Watch out:
  The advantage of lifetime accounts and part-time is that the employee will get paid social insurance contributions even through the Sabbatical. In cases of unpaid leave or cancellation, you will have to take care of this yourself

• Plan your Sabbatical as early as possible and answer the following questions:
  • What are you going to do in your Sabbatical?
  • Which frame conditions have to be respected? Family, relationship, job?
  • How long do you want your Sabbatical to be?
• Read field reports from other individuals who took a Sabbatical
• Talk to your partner about your plans and decide whether you want to take the time-out alone or together
• Did you consider the financial consequences?
  • How much money will you need?
  • Do you have enough reserves?
  • How can you lower your expenditures?
• Make sure that there are possibilities and regulations for a Sabbatical in your company
• Talk to other „Sabbaticers“ about how they prepared and exercised their time-out. Ask for results and experiences
• Inform your company about your plans as soon as possible and make your plans palatable:
  • Choose a good moment to start your Sabbatical:
  • Re-organisations, done projects, changes of sector or a whole new job
  • Organise your arguments to present the advantages of your Sabbatical to the company. This can include new skills, international experience and contacts
  • Make up a plan about how your temporary time-out can be planned within the company and how the period of your time-out and your comeback shall be managed within your company
  • Take a waiting period of 1.5 years into account
  • Consider that a Sabbatical might lead to completely new cognitions and could make your life turn into a whole new direction. This may lead to your cancellation after your return. Be open fort hat and regard the Sabbatical as a chance to get to know yourself and your environment in a new way
• Manage regulations concerning your income, leave entitlement and possible sickness during your Sabbatical in the forefront. Do this in written form. In case your comeback might not work as planned, you should agree on a settlement agreement. To do this, you should contact your personnel department
• Set up a timetable for your activities and make sure there is enough time to relax included
• If you would like to travel, you might want to rent your flat, place your furniture or save money by cancelling phone, newspapers and fitness activities
• When taking a time-out, you might have to take care of your health insurance. Like with an unpaid leave you will have to insure yourself. When evaluating the alternatives, you should consider a family insurance. Make sure there are no gaps in your insurance coverage
• If you plan to spend parts of your time-out abroad, make sure that the moving of a sick person into his or her hoe country is included
• Be aware of the fact that a job time-out is a heavy change in your life. If you are panning a long period of Sabbatical, feelings of differentness, foreignness and feeling as an outsider might occur. You could also meet incomprehension or envy
• Use your free time to take look into your inside. If possible, do this within a new environment. Plan your main activities. Write a diary
• Discover your lust for life and find new motivations
• Consider that your return into your normal working life might not be easy. After so much freedom, an 8-hours working day could be difficult for you. Think of the possibility to return into your job stepwise. The fact that you might have less time for your family when returning to work also has to be taken into account. Save time for your family