{"id":7396,"date":"2022-09-23T20:48:37","date_gmt":"2022-09-23T10:48:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/blog\/sabbatical-leave-policy\/"},"modified":"2025-09-07T07:36:05","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T07:36:05","slug":"sabbatical-leave-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/blog\/sabbatical-leave-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"How does sabbatical leave work in the UK?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull sticky-blog-template has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull blog-template-header has-neutral-100-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--16)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div style=\"--bb--crumb-gap:.4em;\" 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C5.20097822,13.2064956 5.34697566,13.1875473 5.49176982,13.1613904 C6.61362375,12.9593437 7.63039162,12.3585585 8.36398864,11.4636626 L9.59594229,9.94923914 C10.0136795,9.43578101 9.94709821,8.67146367 9.44693666,8.24224316 C8.94677511,7.81302264 8.20254916,7.8816073 7.78481199,8.39527139\" id=\"Fill-4\" fill=\"#000000\" mask=\"url(#mask-4)\"><\/path> <\/g> <\/g> <\/g> <\/g> <\/svg> \n    <\/span>\n            <span class=\"eh-social-sharing-button__copied_text\">\n            URL copied for sharing!        <\/span>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><h1 class=\"blog-template-title wp-block-post-title\">How does sabbatical leave work in the UK?<\/h1><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"blog-template-sub-title\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--9);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--9);line-height:1.5\">Are you up to speed on the latest trend in staff retention?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-template-meta-row is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-query wp-block-hosts-query has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-query-is-layout-1 wp-block-query-is-layout-constrained\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-sm-font-size\" style=\"border-left-style:none;border-left-width:0px;padding-left:0\">Published<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date has-sm-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2022-09-23T20:48:37+00:00\">Sep 23, 2022<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-sm-font-size\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--neutral-700);border-left-width:1px;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2)\">Updated<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date__modified-date wp-block-post-date has-sm-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2025-09-07T07:36:05+00:00\">Sep 7, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-sm-font-size\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--neutral-700);border-left-width:1px;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2)\">18 mins read<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull blog-image-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized blog-template-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/Sabbatical-leave-UK-1024x538.png\" alt=\"Yellow bicycle in front of branches and sky background\" class=\"wp-image-7397\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:864px;height:561px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/Sabbatical-leave-UK-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/Sabbatical-leave-UK-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/Sabbatical-leave-UK-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/Sabbatical-leave-UK.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:66px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-14 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" id=\"content-wrapper\">\n<p class=\"has-lg-font-size\" style=\"border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--neutral-200);border-bottom-width:0.1rem;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--4);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--4)\"><strong>Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"content-single-table-content\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group content_single content_single--blog content-single-content-wysiwyg wysiwyg content-wrapper has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--4)\">\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adeccogroup.com\/future-of-work\/future-at-work-insights-magazine-vol-2\/top-5-trends\">Adecco<\/a>, there is one little known benefit on the rise in 2024 &#8211; sabbatical leave. Although it may seem daunting to a business to offer this as a perk, <a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2017\/08\/research-shows-that-organizations-benefit-when-employees-take-sabbaticals\">research<\/a> has indicated that sabbaticals can have a positive impact for employers. With 91±¬ΑΟ&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/the-state-of-wellbeing-at-work\/\">State of Wellbeing at Work Report<\/a> showing that 65% of employees have felt burnt out due to work, and sabbaticals leading to \u201ca decline in stress and an increase in psychological resources and overall wellbeing,\u201d with positive changes remaining long after the employee has returned to work. This could be the perk that your business needs to keep stress low and employee morale high.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What does that mean for businesses? More engaged, productive employees and increased employee retention.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>McDonald\u2019s was one of the first companies to offer a sabbatical leave programme back in 1977. Ten years ago, 25% of the companies on Fortune\u2019s \u201cBest Companies to Work For\u201d list offered paid sabbaticals.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the UK, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-works.co.uk\/newsrooms\/sabbaticals-are-growing-in-popularity\">reports<\/a> have indicated that 28% of companies offer unpaid sabbatical, and 16% offer paid sabbatical leave. And with 47% of workers saying that sabbatical leave is the non-financial benefit that excites them the most, it is a perk that businesses should consider offering.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But with all the misinformation about sabbaticals, it\u2019s no surprise that companies are nervous to make it an option for their employees. In the interest of demystifying sabbatical leave for businesses, we have broken down exactly what it is, and what it\u2019s not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is sabbatical leave?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sabbatical leave is an extended break from work, which allows employees to pursue other interests. They are typically used for a specific purpose outside of work, such as travel, study or volunteer work. During this period, employees remain part of their organisation, but are exempt from regular duties and can either be paid or unpaid.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike paid time off, there is no statutory entitlement to sabbatical leave in the UK. Because there\u2019s no specific entitlement, the conditions for taking a sabbatical must be individually agreed between the employer and employee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, employees may request a longer period of time off under flexible working rules (as amended by the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2023\/33\/enacted\"> Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023)<\/a>. Under the new rules, all employees have a right to make a flexible working request from day one, and can now make up to two requests every 12 months. This update has removed the requirement for an employee to have 26 weeks\u2019 continuous service, so that now requesting flexible working is a \u2018day-one\u2019 right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"676\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-1024x676.png\" alt=\"Pile of books on a beach\" class=\"wp-image-7398\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-1024x676.png 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-768x507.png 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave.png 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--6)\">How long is a sabbatical?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no standard amount of time for a sabbatical, however they usually last from four weeks, up to a year. Less than four weeks would normally be taken as annual leave, and if the sabbatical were to last longer than a year, this would more likely be viewed as a career break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Curious? Here are some examples:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Buffer offers a <a href=\"https:\/\/timetastic.co.uk\/blog\/sabbatical-policy-buffer\/\">six week paid sabbatical<\/a> after five years with the company.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deloitte offers a <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.deloitte.com\/us\/en\/pages\/about-deloitte\/articles\/about-deloitte-life-going-places-sabbatical-benefits.html\">three to six month paid sabbatical<\/a> for volunteering, or to work on personal or professional development at 40% of normal salary. What\u2019s more, staff can take a one month unpaid sabbatical for any reason.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>BrewDog\u2019s main sabbatical programme offers<a href=\"https:\/\/brewdog.com\/pages\/working-at-brewdog#:~:text=In%20return%2C%20we'll%20give,do%20it%20a%20bit%20different.\"> four weeks of paid sabbatical<\/a> after five years\u2019 service.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tescoplc.com\/sustainability\/documents\/policies\/flexible-working-at-tesco\/\">Tesco<\/a> offers a sabbatical in the form of a \u2018lifestyle break\u2019 which gives employees up to three months off, unpaid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patagonia.com\/environmental-internship-program.html\">Patagonia<\/a> offers a two month paid sabbatical to work with an environmental group of the employee\u2019s choice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is a sabbatical the same as a career break?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sabbaticals may be called career breaks but the legal ramifications are different, and the main consideration is whether or not the employment contract remains in place during the leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unpaid leave is a broad term covering all types of leave without pay. The typical scenarios are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Additional leave where paid leave has been exhausted<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sabbaticals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Career breaks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emergencies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unpaid parental leave<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time off work for public duties, such as jury duty<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medical appointments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compassionate and bereavement leave<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Unpaid leave generally applies to shorter periods of time than career breaks and, as with sabbaticals, the contract usually stays in place and the employee returns to the same job. Sabbaticals can be paid or unpaid, or paid a percentage of normal salary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Career breaks are typically used for longer periods during which the employment contract is usually discontinued. A career break may be used when a parent doesn\u2019t want to come back to work after parental leave has ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-3-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-3-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-violet-500-background-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-526e231c0212152719a5e10470a0e6d0 is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-10 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--6);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--6);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--6);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--6)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color has-xl-font-size wp-elements-441ef7df7da44c226e3dac6497c3829e\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--0)\">Get your free guide now<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-2 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill color-white\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-btn-black-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/blog\/what-is-a-workplace-policy\/\">Click to download<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-violet-500-background-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-9ecd62f0cf3863021b284ac476a72b27 is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-11 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--6);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--6);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--6);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--6)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color has-xl-font-size wp-elements-9170da5ebed7d7fed61a210a91f8f8c3\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--0)\">Jump into Employment OS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-3 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill color-white\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-btn-black-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/request-a-demo\/\">Request a demo<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--6)\">What is the difference between flexible working and a sabbatical?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Flexible working is about having more control over how, when, and where you get your work done. This means that flexible working adjustments focus on the day-to-day and could include part-time schedules, compressed hours, remote work options, or flexible start and finish times. These arrangements allow employees to structure their work around their lives, boosting morale and potentially increasing productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, sabbaticals are extended, typically unpaid, leaves of absence. This means during a sabbatical, although still employed, an individual is not conducting their day to day work activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does sabbatical leave work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the UK, employees can take sabbaticals in one of two ways: as paid or unpaid leave, or as a temporary break from employment. Either way, these should be governed by a sabbatical agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Where employees make a flexible working request, the employer has a duty to consider requests fairly and can follow the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acas.org.uk\/acas-code-of-practice-on-flexible-working-requests\">Acas Code of Practice<\/a> on flexible working requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Employers have the right to refuse flexible working requests on the basis of a specific business need. However, in the current climate, employers may be keen to agree to requests for unpaid sabbaticals due to the salary savings, and even as an alternative to making redundancies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Where a sabbatical request is not made under flexible working legislation, it is up to the employer and employee to agree the terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A key legal issue that employers must address is what happens to the employment contract (including employee benefits and continuity of service) during the sabbatical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the sabbatical is to be paid, typically the contract remains in place, which also preserves the employee\u2019s continuity of service. Unless the company has a specific policy regarding sabbatical leave, specific ongoing contractual terms must be negotiated between the parties, such as leave entitlement, benefits, and salary payments. During unpaid sabbatical leave, typically the contract of employment does not remain in place. However, the employer may agree to preserve continuity of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why do employees choose to take a sabbatical?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If it\u2019s not already clear why an employee might want to take a sabbatical, let\u2019s break it down into three main themes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Taking a break: <\/strong>With burnout and stress making headlines on a regular basis, an employee may simply want a break. According to 91±¬ΑΟ\u2019s The State of Wellbeing at Work Report, 65% of workers have felt burnt out due to work. Due to this, it can sometimes be important for an employee to take a sabbatical to recover or avoid burnout. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/2010-16973-001\">a study of university professors<\/a>, those who went on sabbatical experienced less stress at work upon their return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Upskilling: <\/strong>Learning sabbaticals are all the rage, and for very good reasons. We already mentioned Deloitte and Buffer who offer paid sabbaticals for learning and career development opportunities. Deloitte and McKinsey, among others, sponsor employees to attend full-time MBA programmes after a certain length of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Life experience: <\/strong>Taking a sabbatical is a great opportunity to gain fulfilling life experiences, and come back to work wiser and more resilient. And besides, school isn\u2019t the only time to learn, right? In their book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/30341999-the-100-year-life?from_search=true\">The 100-Year Life<\/a>, Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott argue that increased life expectancy will bring unprecedented challenges \u2013 challenges that we aren\u2019t prepared for when our education is front-loaded in our early years. So taking time out to learn along the way is essential. Or better yet, let\u2019s embrace and encourage lifelong learning and experimentation. Surely a great use of a sabbatical, we think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is everyone entitled to sabbatical leave?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are no specific employment laws giving the right to a sabbatical in the UK, although the right to request flexible working may be used by employees to structure a sabbatical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As there is no governing legislation, the terms of a sabbatical tend to be governed either by a company\u2019s sabbatical policy, or by specific agreements between the employer and employee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We can see why employers may be anxious about offering sabbatical leave, but it doesn\u2019t have to be perceived as negative. There are several benefits for employers who support sabbatical leave.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We already know the benefits that an extended break can provide for employees, from learning new skills, taking time out, or to focus on other projects. But what about benefits for employers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At first, it might seem like a resourcing headache, plus a nightmare for payroll. And while we agree that business continuity is important, especially for small businesses, there are a number of benefits that sabbaticals can provide to employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Improved employee retention <\/strong>\u2013 it\u2019s a great benefit to offer, and employees tend to return from their sabbatical refreshed, energised and motivated. That\u2019s a boost for retention, and also for productivity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Attracts top talent<\/strong> \u2013 sabbaticals aren\u2019t the norm, and they aren\u2019t often listed on company benefits. If you do have a policy on sabbatical leave, you\u2019re likely to attract the best candidates in their field seeking a company offering flexibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Improved skills in the workplace <\/strong>\u2013 employees returning from a sabbatical are likely to have a wealth of skills and experience to share with their colleagues. These could be interpersonal skills, or specific to their role or team. Either way, we embrace cultures of learning. And if there are real barriers to learning or upskilling within your company, then releasing an employee to go on a sabbatical to gain skills elsewhere is a smart use of resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Male and female sitting in front of Sydney harbour bridge\" class=\"wp-image-36102\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1.jpeg 512w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-120x120.jpeg 120w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-240x240.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-54x54.jpeg 54w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-108x108.jpeg 108w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-390x390.jpeg 390w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-200x200.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-400x400.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-216x216.jpeg 216w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-432x432.jpeg 432w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-112x112.jpeg 112w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-224x224.jpeg 224w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-142x142.jpeg 142w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/sabbatical-leave-2-1-284x284.jpeg 284w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--6)\">Can an employer refuse a sabbatical?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, there\u2019s nothing to stop an employer refusing a request for sabbatical. But before you go turning down those requests, bear in mind how it might benefit you as an employer. After all, perks such as this are good for business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re advocates for doing leave management right, but we know it\u2019s not easy \u2013 especially for small businesses. If you don&#8217;t know where to start, check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/blog\/leave-management-guide\/\">guide to leave management<\/a> for more tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you\u2019re inspired to go up a level with the benefits you can offer and want to create a sabbatical leave policy \u2013 keep reading. We\u2019ve got you covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to create a sabbatical policy for your company<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So let\u2019s look at what goes into creating sabbatical policies.And if you need a refresher on creating workplace policies,take a look at <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/blog\/what-is-a-workplace-policy\/\">our guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Create a clear policy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your policy should clearly set out what your employees need to know about taking a sabbatical. This will include details such as who is eligible for sabbatical leave, when they become eligible, how much time can be taken, how frequently, and whether or not it will be paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The policy is important because it creates clarity, which can help protect against misunderstandings which could lead to disputes and claims. Remember, part-time employees must be given the same consideration as full-time employees, and any selection criteria should not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipd.org\/uk\/knowledge\/guides\/sabbaticals-guide\/\">create an imbalance<\/a> for those with other protected characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Create a request process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ideally this will sit alongside your existing leave request process so that line managers have visibility over leave requests. Effective <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/blog\/leave-management-guide\/\">leave management<\/a> is important as it allows for consistency across the business for annual leave, sick leave, etc. It also reduces errors and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cio.com\/article\/2858746\/9-reasons-good-employees-leave-and-how-you-can-prevent-it.html\">increases productivity, satisfaction and retention levels<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Implement a clear system<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether this is already set up in your <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/products\/hr-software\/\">HR software<\/a> or your HR team creates a new system, it will need to integrate with payroll to ensure that employee records are kept up to date. The system should address departure and return dates, points of contact, keep in touch arrangements, and benefits such as bonuses, holiday entitlement and pension contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Talk about it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The last step is to communicate your sabbatical policy. In this Great Reset era \u2013 which is now being exacerbated by the cost of living crisis \u2013 benefits like sabbaticals will set you apart from your competition and could be a defining part of your retention strategy. Flexibility is what workers are looking for, so don\u2019t forget to shout about it in your <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/blog\/employee-value-proposition-evp\/\">EVP<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The wrap up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re considering a sabbatical leave policy, being inundated by requests for flexible working arrangements, or even looking for ways to <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/resources\/employee-redundancy\/\">avoid redundancies<\/a>, there are plenty of benefits for employers and employees alike when it comes to sabbaticals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However you manage leave requests, having a robust HR system will make it a breeze for you. If you want to find out how <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/pricing\/\">91±¬ΑΟ\u2019s<\/a> Employment OS can help you hire top talent, as well as drive employee engagement, all while automating complex payroll, book a demo today!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-4 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\" data-trigger-modal=\"request-a-demo-modal\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\">Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:410px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group right-sticky-side-panel has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-2 is-position-sticky\">\n    <div class=\"top-sticky-form is-layout-flow wp-block-marketo-form-is-layout-flow\" 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class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-15 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-link-arrow is-style-link-arrow--3\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-btn-brand-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"\/resources\/?topic%5B0%5D%5B0%5D=Product\">View all<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query blog-3-col-query-loop is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"columns-3 alignfull wp-block-post-template is-layout-grid wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-1 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-grid\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-50792 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-uncategorized tag-in-depth-analysis resource-type-blog\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-border-color has-neutral-100-border-color has-white-background-color has-background is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-18 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-width:1px;min-height:100%\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;width:100%;height:100%; padding-bottom:0;padding-top:0;margin-bottom:0;\" class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/blog\/employment-rights-act-fire-and-rehire\/\" target=\"_self\"  style=\"height:100%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Fire-and-Rehire-Restrictions-Under-the-Employment-Rights-Act-A-UK-Employers-Guide-.webp\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Fire and Rehire Restrictions Under the Employment Rights Act: A UK Employer&#8217;s Guide\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Fire-and-Rehire-Restrictions-Under-the-Employment-Rights-Act-A-UK-Employers-Guide-.webp 1600w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Fire-and-Rehire-Restrictions-Under-the-Employment-Rights-Act-A-UK-Employers-Guide--300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Fire-and-Rehire-Restrictions-Under-the-Employment-Rights-Act-A-UK-Employers-Guide--1024x576.webp 1024w, 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Find out what&#8217;s changed, what&#8217;s coming and&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<a style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-elements-9dfcbcb7662772ecb2d671e8976a6c51 wp-block-read-more has-text-color has-violet-500-color\" href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/blog\/collective-redundancy-changes-employment-rights-act-2025\/\" target=\"_self\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">: Collective Redundancy and the Employment Rights Act: What Changes for UK Employers<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/blog\/collective-redundancy-changes-employment-rights-act-2025\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"group-block-link\"><\/a>\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.eh_marketo_form .mktoCheckboxList label {\n    line-height: 0.95rem !important;\n}\n.top-sticky-form .eh_marketo_form-container .eh_marketo_form_step_0 .mktoFieldDescriptor.mktoFormCol {\n    height: 4.5rem;\n}\n.top-sticky-form .eh_marketo_form-container .eh_marketo_form_step_0 .mktoFormRow:nth-last-of-type(-n+3) .mktoFieldDescriptor.mktoFormCol {\n    height: auto !important;\n}\n<\/style>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you up to speed on the latest trend in staff retention? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":31989,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_lite_auth_enabled":false,"_lite_auth_trigger_method":"scroll","_lite_auth_scroll_percent":25,"_lite_auth_click_element_query":"","exclude_from_algolia":false,"reading_time":"9 min read","display_reading_time":false,"download_content_type":"file","download_file":"34140","download_url":"","download_cta_label":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"resource-type":[157],"topic":[88,143],"industry":[65,57,55,66,72,35,76,41,77,58,43,67,46,69,40,59,73,70,45,54,47,49,51,68,52,50,64,44,42,53,48,74,75,56,71],"audience":[],"business-size":[],"product-tag":[],"funnel-stage":[],"region":[],"pain-point":[],"persona":[],"post_features":[],"class_list":["post-7396","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","resource-type-blog","topic-culture-performance","topic-employee-benefits","industry-agriculture","industry-automotive","industry-business-consulting","industry-childcare","industry-colleges-and-sporting-clubs","industry-construction","industry-consumer-services","industry-customer-service","industry-early-education","industry-ecommerce","industry-education","industry-entertainment","industry-finance","industry-financial-services","industry-franchises","industry-health-and-fitness","industry-health-services","industry-healthcare","industry-hospitality","industry-it-and-technology","industry-legal","industry-logistics-manufacturing","industry-media-communications","industry-not-for-profit","industry-professional-services","industry-public-relations","industry-real-estate","industry-real-estate-and-strata-management","industry-recruitment","industry-retail","industry-stem","industry-technology","industry-utilities-public-services","industry-veterinary-services","industry-youth-services"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7396","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7396"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7396\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41961,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7396\/revisions\/41961"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31989"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7396"},{"taxonomy":"resource-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-type?post=7396"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=7396"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=7396"},{"taxonomy":"audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/audience?post=7396"},{"taxonomy":"business-size","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/business-size?post=7396"},{"taxonomy":"product-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product-tag?post=7396"},{"taxonomy":"funnel-stage","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/funnel-stage?post=7396"},{"taxonomy":"region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region?post=7396"},{"taxonomy":"pain-point","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pain-point?post=7396"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=7396"},{"taxonomy":"post_features","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_features?post=7396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}