Taking a sabbatical even if your company doesn't offer one: How to do it.

Katherine Ullman, who had been working intensely during the Covid-19 pandemic, was feeling burned out and contemplating her next career move.

Ullman, a 33-year-old San Francisco resident, took a two-month sabbatical from her job to reevaluate her life. During her time off, she traveled to Mexico for a yoga retreat and Colombia, where she hiked and took an online drawing class.

Ullman stated that there were discussions about switching roles and she was contemplating whether she wanted to make the change.

"Should I have done that here?" she wondered, considering alternative options.

The combination of those factors made me feel the need for space.

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Ullman's consulting firm had a policy that paid her during her leave. However, not everyone is as fortunate. Some may be allowed to take unpaid leave, while others may quit their jobs. In fact, that's just what Ullman did shortly after she returned to work at the end of January.

"I hadn't decided on my plans, but when I returned, it became evident," she stated.

Ullman is currently on her second unpaid sabbatical, but she is fortunate enough to have saved enough money to cover her expenses.

Sabbaticals are not a typical employee benefit. Prior to the pandemic, only 5% of companies offered a paid sabbatical program, while 11% offered it unpaid, according to the Society for Human Resource Management's 2019 benefits report.

DJ DiDonna, who studies sabbaticals and is the founder of research and advocacy nonprofit The Sabbatical Project, stated that there is a significant difference between a one- or two-week vacation and multiple months off.

He remarked, "It's not often that you have the opportunity to pause and reflect on your life, such as asking yourself, 'What am I doing? How am I approaching life? What do I want my life to be like? Have I gone off track?'"

Despite the lack of sabbatical policies, there are ways to move forward during the Great Reshuffle, which is a wave of pandemic-era job quitting.

Experts suggest that if you want to request an extended leave or take a break from work, you should follow these steps.

How to approach your employer

Before discussing a sabbatical with your boss, research the benefits offered by the company, even if it's not explicitly labeled as a sabbatical, advised Vicki Salemi, a career expert at Monster.

"Some areas may present opportunities for exploration," she stated.

It's important to have a conversation with your boss, even if you don't see any benefits that would allow you extended time off, Salemi said. This conversation should be in person, over video, or on the phone, not via email or messaging.

Before meeting, have a clear plan for the number of weeks off and start date, as well as how your work will be handled during your absence, advised Salemi.

She said to check with human resources or whatever next step may have been decided during the meeting, start an email chain, noting what was discussed and ask any follow up questions.

If the answer is no, then consider your options.

Salemi stated, "Pausing to examine the big picture and assess whether this company is the right fit for you is an opportunity."

Deciding to quit

Even though Google had an unpaid leave policy, quitting was the best option for 35-year-old Mohit Bhasin.

Bhasin stated that it was an opportunity to determine the next step in an open space that was created. He added that he did not want to rely on Google as a fallback plan.

Bhasin, who spent his time off in India with family and kiteboarding in beach destinations like Mexico, had saved enough money to sustain himself for at least a year without income. He also had no mortgage and could easily cut expenses when he moved away from the San Francisco Bay Area.

It is important to be financially prepared to take a break from work, even if it is for a shorter duration, before moving on to the next job.

Winnie Sun, co-founder and managing director of Irvine, California-based Sun Group Wealth Partners, advised creating a budget and assessing cash reserves to determine if it's possible to survive without income for a certain duration.

Before leaving their job/paycheck, she advised clients to set up a home equity line of credit on their home (if they have equity), plan how they will sustain themselves during the break without tapping their retirement plan, save enough income and have an emergency fund ready, even if it is temporary.

Also, make sure you have health coverage during your time away.

Bhasin took on writing projects five months into his sabbatical.

"Assisting others can inspire new ideas for your next step," he suggested.

Ten months after leaving his job, Bhasin resumed work as a data scientist for a tech startup. Although he relocated to California last summer, he continues to travel for kiteboarding, as his job allows for remote work and flexible hours.

Bhasin stated that he discovered his preferences during his time off.

"I had no idea remote work could offer such balance," he remarked, surprised by the flexibility of his new Bay Area lifestyle.

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