An Advantageous Adventure: Why career breaks make business sense

Unless you’re the head of companies such as Netflix, Virgin and LinkedIn, who are giving their employees unlimited annual leave, then holiday allowance at the company you run is probably around 26 days. And the higher your employees move up the ladder, the longer it gets. Which is great news for them. But how many people actually used their total holiday allowance in 2015?

According to a YouGov survey, almost a third of British workers did not take their full holiday entitlement last year, due to heavy workloads, schedule clashes and anxiety about taking time off.

But while some people take less than they’re entitled to, others are opting for longer holidays, sometimes even leaving their jobs to do so. Career breaks, sabbaticals, call it what you want, here’s how they can be beneficial to your employees and your company.

Hippocampus

Want a bigger brain? Take a hike. Research has shown that hiking or walking grows your brain. Your hippocampus, the part of your brain associated with learning and the formation of new memories, gets smaller once you reach your mid-fifties, leading to memory loss. But a group of middle-aged adults that took three, forty-minute walks a week for a year grew their hippocampi by 2%, which could improve their memory retention in future. A month or more away from work spent on a hiking adventure will ensure that when your employee returns, they do so more mentally sharp than ever before.

Parlez-vous français?

During career breaks, there will be plenty of time to pick up new skills, whether that’s a new language, leadership skills, or a project management qualification. Career breaks can be used to make your employee an even more valuable asset to your company than before. And if they spent their time away from work travelling the world, they may be able to offer an insight into new global markets your company is yet to explore.

Rejuvenate

A sabbatical can be an excellent time to give your body and mind the rest it needs. After working the same job day in, day out, employees often experience burnout and a lack of motivation to go to work. An extended holiday will allow them to come back to the office rejuvenated and with renewed focus.

Energizing Ingredients

Vacations have been shown to lead to significantly higher performance when the employee returns back to work. Time away from stressors and new social experiences are the energizing ingredients that can build a new found competence and social connections.

Those left behind

Career break and sabbaticals are not only beneficial for those who take them; they are also good for the business because of what happens in the aftermath. Change in team structure encourages new ways of working, an opportunity for the team left behind to take on new responsibilities and additionally provides the company with an insight into the potential capabilities of employees in new roles.

People are taking career breaks in an increasing variety of lengths and styles. Some companies offer career breaks or sabbaticals after as little as six months’ service, although it’s more common for employees to qualify after five or seven years with a company. Many of the Clipper Race participants have taken a year off work for the race, or a few months for the ones completing one leg of the race. But the skills they pick up and take back to the workplace are invaluable and unique. Leadership skills, team building skills, tenacity and resilience to name a few to. It truly is a life changing experience, not only for the individuals but for the companies they return to.

Watch the stories from some of the participants who have taken part in the race.