Career break policy template
A practical career break policy template that supports extended employee leave while balancing organisational needs.
- 2 pages / 398 words.
- Last updated 15/09/2025.
- Designed for United Kingdom use.
- Suitable for use in other territories; check local laws first.
- Instantly download as Word / PDF / plain text, or send by email.
- Includes 12 months’ access, with all updates to this page provided free of charge and notified to you.
Career break policy
1 Overview
1.1 A career break is an extended period of unpaid leave granted to employees who wish to take time away from work for personal reasons, such as travel, study, caring responsibilities, or personal development. This policy outlines the eligibility criteria, application process, and key principles governing career breaks to ensure fairness and consistency across the organisation.
2 Scope
2.1 This policy applies to all eligible employees who meet the criteria outlined below. It ensures that career breaks are granted fairly and consistently, balancing employee needs with business requirements.
3 General Principles
3.1 Eligibility
3.1.1 Career breaks are available to employees with a minimum of [X] years of continuous service.
Employees must have a satisfactory performance record and not be subject to any ongoing
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This policy template helps organisations provide a structured approach to career breaks, allowing employees to take extended time away from work for personal, family, or developmental reasons.
It sets out clear eligibility, application, and approval processes, helping both managers and employees manage expectations and responsibilities.
By adopting this policy, employers show commitment to flexibility, retention, and employee wellbeing, while ensuring business continuity and fairness across the workforce.
Send to appropriate internal recipients such as employees, workers, contractors etc. and request confirmation that is has been read and understood.
Issue during onboarding / after changes / planned refresher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I use this template in my small business?
Yes. The Career break policy template is designed to be flexible and suitable for organisations of all sizes, including small businesses and charities. It follows UK employment law best practice, so even if you don't have an in-house HR team, you can confidently apply it.
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Is this template compliant with 2025 UK employment law?
Absolutely. All of our templates are drafted with the latest ACAS guidance and UK employment legislation in mind. We review and update them regularly, so you can be confident they remain compliant.
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Can I customise it for my organisation?
Yes, we highlight the areas that you need to update with your own details, and where you need to make decisions to suit your situation. This saves you time and ensures that you meet best practice.
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Do I get instant access?
Yes. Once purchased, you'll be able to download it instantly. Templates are provided in editable Word or Excel format so you can customise them easily, and in PDF format for easy sharing.
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What if I need more help, not just this template?
If you're looking for broader support, we also offer toolkits and library bundles that include this template, along with other HR templates and policies for fully managing your situation. These may be more cost-effective if you need deeper advice.
