Sabbatical advice

silkcutblue

A quick query here as I'm finding conflicting advice on the interwebs and in our company policies.

I've been granted a sabbatical. I will leave in 6 months time and in passing I've found out that my job will be recruited for permanently (not for the 8months I am away). There also isn't another job at my level for me to come back to. A few times it's been said, "...if you come back."

I thought a sabbatical was basically a load of unpaid holiday so you could travel/study/do whatever? I was taking it so I WOULD have a job to come back to.

Am I being thick about what a sabbatical is or is my employer?

PasturesNew

You're not being thick, but it's been something that was mostly part of acadeic setups in the past ... where it was 'sabbatical leave', shortened to 'sabbatical' in the vernacular - and has now leaked into business a little bit using the loose term sabbatical.

No idea how good these guys are, but they say:

It may be possible to reach a private agreement with an employer in order that a contract may be continued on return from the break. However, the employer is not bound by such an agreement and therefore you will not be able to take action if your employment is terminated on your return.


Source: http://www.myemploymentsolicitor.co.uk/career-breaks.html

So your job isn't secure, or guaranteed .... you need to look at the wording in your contract/sabbatical agreement.... or is it all verbal?

silkcutblue

Actually that link is really handy and makes sense. Much appreciated! I'm normally good at searching things but I lose the ability when it comes to stuff important to me.

I found what I thought was a sabbatical policy but it appears it was just in draft form and not implemented (just realised! Sorry).

Seems to me that I get to give 6 months "notice", recruit my successor, not get any rights or guarantees, and no benefits when I am off.

I don't see a single reason why I should accept a sabbatical. I think I will just give them 1 months notice when I see fit and they can recruit someone else.

I'll let my boss know in our 1-2-1 today.

chanie

I work in HR and my organisation does offer a career break (sabbatical) but we don't guarantee a job upon return, which makes me think the whole thing is rather pointless!!!!

Unfortunately, there is no legal rights with regards to sabbaticals, so you are at the mercy of your employer.

getmore4less

You want a continuation of contractual employment for continuity of service, with redundancy if there is no suitable job to come back to.

Anything less is a resignation.