What It’s Like to Go on Sabbatical As a Lawyer

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Our CorporetteMoms morning writer, Ann, just returned from an eight-week paid sabbatical, and offered to write about it… so today she's sharing tips on how to take advantage of an employer's sabbatical policy, how to prepare for a sabbatical as a lawyer, and what it's like to return after eight weeks away! Huge thanks to Ann for sharing! – Kat

I recently returned to work after a fully-paid, eight-week sabbatical (cue the tiny violins)! Now that I’m back at work, I thought I’d share some information about my employer’s sabbatical policy, how I prepared for my sabbatical, and what my first weeks back were like. (I’m a litigator, and yes, even busy litigators can take a sabbatical.)

A few years ago, my employer, a small legal nonprofit, added a sabbatical benefit. Before that, I thought sabbaticals were only for tenured professors. Since then, I’ve heard of other nonprofits that offer sabbaticals, and the practice seems to be growing.

Readers, have you ever taken a sabbatical? What was it like?

What It's Like to Go on Sabbatical As a Lawyer

Where I work, the policy was added as a retention and professional development benefit. Legal nonprofits know they cannot compete on salary, so something like a sabbatical is a great way to reward and recognize long-term employees. In turn, junior employees get their own professional development opportunities. For example, when my manager took her sabbatical, I did her job.

Of course, having rested and reinvigorated employees is also a plus.

{related: open thread: how to take the stress out of vacation planning}

Employer Policies for Staff Sabbaticals

Our policy is pretty simple: After seven years of employment, you are eligible for your first sabbatical, which you must take within the year. (There are some very narrow exceptions that seem harder to get than just taking it when you are supposed to.) After the first sabbatical, you are eligible to take one every five years. (I’m already planning my next one, ha!)

The sabbatical is fully paid for six weeks, and you have the option to add two weeks of accrued vacation for a total of eight weeks. During the sabbatical, you are not supposed to access work email, join Zoom meetings, or do any work at all. No one is supposed to contact you except in really limited circumstances. (I got the impression it had to be something like a coworker's death.)

{related: the best employee perks and benefits}

Now, you must be wondering, does anyone really take advantage of this? Would there be any professional ramifications, like the kind parents face when they take parental leave? Where I work, no. Our policy was designed so employees actually use it. The reason why it’s so successful is everyone takes it — from our executive director down. If there isn’t buy-in from management, there’s no reason for offering it.

For example, I was talking with co-counsel at a Biglaw firm, and he joked that his firm had a sabbatical policy on paper, but it was so complicated and frowned upon that rumor had it only one person ever managed to use it.

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What to Do During a Sabbatical

So what do you do with all that no-strings-attached time off? Most people travel. My family took a nearly five-week trip to Asia and Australia, and I did childcare the rest of the summer to save money on daycare to pay for said trip. One colleague moved, another person spent quality time with their college-bound kid, our ED got back into running, and someone who’s up for their sabbatical this year is planning a spa/wellness getaway to decompress.

In the weeks before my sabbatical, I worked with my manager to finish any loose ends and hand off anything I couldn’t finish. As I mentioned, I filled in for my manager, so she mostly filled in for me. We also delegated some discrete tasks to other staff to give them a chance to learn a little about what I do. I also let any outside partners know I was going to be out, and who was filling in. Finally, my out-of-office message stated I was on sabbatical and to get in touch again when I got back.

During my sabbatical, I didn’t peek at any email or hear a peep from anyone I worked with. After I got back, I had a pretty quiet week — it happened to be the end of summer so lots of my colleagues were on vacation. Before I left, I had set up meetings with my team and management to catch up on what went on while I was out. We aren't required to catch up on email, but I’m an inbox-zero person so I did it over a few days.

What It's Like to Return to Work After a Sabbatical

How did I feel when I got back? Well, the sky didn’t fall — the work moved along and I just jumped right back in. Given that my sabbatical consisted of a really ambitious travel itinerary followed by a short stint as a SAHM, I was ready to go back to work. I’m not sure I felt rested (again, personal choice on my part — maybe more rest next time!), but I felt reengaged and full of new ideas.

I know a sabbatical is a tough sell — Americans often don't even take their allotted annual leave. But, hopefully this gives you some information to advocate for a sabbatical policy where you work!

{related: things to do at work to prep for your vacation}

Readers, do tell: Does your employer allow sabbaticals? If you've taken a sabbatical, what did you use it for, and how did it go? If you're planning one — or daydreaming about one — what will you / would you do?

Stock photo via Stencil.