Since 1992, a small construction company in St. Louis has offered its 250 employees even more than a sabbatical. After every five years of service, ARCO Construction Company’s employees get a 4-week paid break and a $3500 travel bonus.
During their sabbaticals, employees are not allowed to have any contact with the company (their BlackBerries are taken away), because ARCO wants to make sure its employees experience the benefits of truly disconnecting. “People at ARCO work very long, hard hours, and this is a way to give back and allow them to recharge,” says the firm’s head of HR, Beth Hunter.
The program is a “huge retention tool” and a morale booster, Hunter says. “Associates feel appreciated for the work that they do, and they know that we care about them.”
Upon return to work, ARCO employees are expected to write up a story of their sabbatical experience, which goes in the 
company newsletter and is framed and displayed on ARCO’s walls. The company also sends a blow-up version to the employee’s home, as a gift.
ARCO is one of the few companies in its industry to offer sabbaticals, and the travel bonus is rare in any industry. Hats off to ARCO.
Anyone know of other construction firms that offer sabbaticals?
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Continuing the Discussion
[...] ARCO’s Sabbatical Bonus Posted on November 12, 2009 Since 1992, a small construction company in St. Louis has offered its 250 employees even more than a sabbatical. After every five years of service, ARCO Construction Company’s employees get a 4-week paid break and a $3500 travel bonus. You can read more about ARCO here. [...]