Yesterday’s Sunday Mirror, a UK newspaper, noted that more people than ever are taking sabbaticals, with nine in 10 “gap-year” (what the Brits call a sabbatical) travellers now over 30. The research was provided by American Express Insurance Services, a company that offers sabbaticals for its employees.
The sabbatical mindset is not foreign in the UK, where students commonly take a “gap year” prior to moving on with studies or entering the work-a-day world. And the sabbatical trend is growing with UK-based companies. A 2007 employer trends survey conducted by the Confederation of British Industry finds that 37% of companies in the UK have a sabbatical policy – that’s up from 20% in 2004. More companies are considering introducing one. The CBI is the UK’s leading independent business organization.
In the US, 24% of small businesses and 14% of large businesses allow their employees to take sabbaticals (paid or unpaid of six months or more), according to a 2008 trends survey conducted by the Families and Work Institute.
When it comes to employers supporting loyal, hard-working employees with career breaks that rejuvenate, inspire creativity and honor individuals with opportunities for personal enrichment – America, we’ve got some catching up to do.
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