Sabbatical policy template

Overview

The company recognises the importance of employee well-being, personal growth, and continued professional development. To support these goals, we offer a sabbatical leave program to eligible employees. This policy outlines the guidelines, eligibility criteria, application process, and expectations associated with taking a sabbatical leave.

Scope

This policy is applicable to all employees of [Company].

General principles

All full-time employees who have been employed with the company for a minimum of [insert number of years] years are eligible to apply for a sabbatical.

Length of Sabbatical

Eligible employees may take a sabbatical for a minimum of [insert number of weeks or months] and a maximum of [insert number of weeks or months]. The length of the sabbatical will be determined by the employee's proposed plan and its relevance to their role at the company. Requests for extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Application Process

Employees interested in taking a sabbatical leave must submit a written application to their immediate supervisor at least [number] months in advance of the proposed leave start date. The application should include the following:

• Reason for requesting sabbatical leave

• Proposed start and end dates

• A plan outlining how the employee's responsibilities will be managed during their absence

• How the employee intends to use the sabbatical time for personal or professional growth

• Any additional relevant information

Approval Process

Sabbatical leave requests will be reviewed by the employee's immediate supervisor and the HR department. Approval will be based on factors such as the employee's performance, business needs, workload distribution, and overall impact on the team. The company reserves the right to approve or deny sabbatical leave requests based on operational requirements.

Responsibilities and Expectations

Employees approved for sabbatical leave are expected to adhere to the following:

• Maintain open communication with the company and provide updates on their wellbeing and any changes to their sabbatical plans.

• Return to work on the agreed-upon date and be ready to resume their duties and responsibilities.

• Complete any pre-arranged assignments or projects as agreed upon with their supervisor.

Compensation and Benefits

During the sabbatical leave, employees will not receive their regular salary. However, they may be eligible to receive a partial payment, which will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Employees will continue to receive the following company benefits during the sabbatical, subject to the terms of the benefit plans:

• [e.g. healthcare, perks etc.]

Annual Leave

While on sabbatical leave, employees [will | will not] continue to accrue their annual leave as per company policy. [This accrued leave can be used upon their return from sabbatical, subject to the company's annual leave policy.]

Return to Work

Upon completion of the sabbatical leave, employees are expected to return to work on the agreed-upon date. The company will make reasonable efforts to reintegrate the employee into their previous role or an equivalent position, taking into consideration any changes that may have occurred during their absence.

Reapplication

Employees who have taken sabbatical leave may apply for another sabbatical after completing an additional [insert number of years] year service following their return from the previous leave.