HOW TO NEGOTIATE FOR A SABBATICAL WITHOUT LOSING YOUR JOB

All of us 9-to-5ers have dreamed of taking that long, delicious leave from our day-to-day work because the reality is, paltry annual leaves are simply not enough to accommodate whatever we have on our life goals list. We are also terrified that asking for a break might cost us our income and career – which frankly, shouldn’t be the case especially if the daily toil is affecting our overall well-being (I firmly believe that work SHOULD NEVER be a reason to compromise your health and there are a multitude of research-backed articles out there that prove taking a break is ultimately good for yourself and your career). I know not everyone can simply just drop everything and jet off forever: we forget that travel is still very much a PRIVILEGE no matter what articles and bloggers say, so maybe this can help you achieve short-term breaks.

A sabbatical is an investment in YOURSELF and in your relationships: like visiting a friend I haven't seen for the longest time, in Sweden!

I use the term “sabbatical” loosely here – and I mean it to be a short break from work, not a one-year paid hiatus or a full-on gap year. It can be a month or two or three. Depends really, on how long you can go for and what you can negotiate with your company. I’m also assuming that you already have:

1. A good track record with your current employer and boss because that makes it easier to open the conversation, and

2. Your finances in order, with enough cash to tide you over and pay for any investments, bills, and responsibilities monthly, especially if your sabbatical is unpaid. Because: #RESPONSIBLEADULTING.

I came back poorer monetarily, but richer in experiences . I also fulfilled a childhood dream to visit Denmark's The Little Mermaid. ;-)

So far, I’ve taken approximately 11 MONTHS OFF IN TOTAL in the past four years alone, including sabbaticals, annual leaves, public holidays and office shutdowns - without losing my job or career opportunities. Not that bad really, for someone with a desk job and working in a country where the legal minimum for off days is a measly 7 days!

Sabbatical in Europe for two months! I wouldn't have been able to explore Europe again without this break.

Here are some tips on how to hustle for that much-needed break, may it be for traveling, spending time with loved ones, or pursuing passion projects. More applicable to those who want time off but cannot commit yet to a long-term travel plan and want to have a job waiting for them when they come back:

1. GO FOR UNPAID LEAVE. Let’s start with the easiest and most obvious – ask for a break beyond your annual leaves. You can use this non-paid leave as an argument that for the time you’re away, the company can re-funnel your salary to tap a freelancer for air cover or use it as a bonus for a team member who might be able to take on your workload. Or not – they can just keep the money for themselves and save 1, 2, 3 months’ worth of your salary. They don’t lose an employee (business-wise, it’s always more expensive to hire new ones vs. retain them) and they don’t need to spend on top of what they’re already paying you monthly. You might ask: but then I lose out financially because I don’t get paid for x number of months? !! Well my friend, you’re short-sighted. First of all, this is a NEGOTIATION – it’s all about compromises and/or what each party can get out of the conversation, so cut the crap. Second, you’re not seeing the big picture here – a sabbatical is always a good investment IN YOURSELF. I don’t think anyone’s ever complained or regretted that they did something that made them deliriously happy for once. In the long run, you’d remember that time you rode a hot air balloon over the Serengeti during the mass African migration, and not the income loss.

This trip to Dubai was courtesy of an unpaid leave :)

2. DELAY THAT PROMOTION, EXCHANGE IT FOR A BREAK INSTEAD. Easier said than done, I know. After all those years of toiling, you finally, finally get that much-anticipated step up the corporate ladder! Why lose out now, you ask? Think of it this way: a promotion means yes, more money, but also - more stress, more responsibilities, more problems, more headaches. Not good for your overall well-being, especially if you’re already at wits’ end. What are your priorities now: health or wealth? Flashy corporate titles & positions or your peace of mind and happiness? Would you rather stay till 3 AM in the office, tapping at your laptop or coast through the Greek Islands on a boat, sipping ouzo? Instead of asking the office to raise your compensation now, use the non-promotion as leverage for your break (they don’t need to raise their budget for you now). You can always ask your boss to re-open the promotion conversation 6 or 12 months (or the next budget cycle) after you’ve taken a break so it’s still on the table. Always have agreements in writing. While you wait for your promotion to take effect, you can regale yourself with memories of your Everest Base Camp trek and that funny Sherpa whose humour helped you survive the high-altitude activity.

This view in Canggu or a view of your office walls?

3. WHEN SWITCHING JOBS, EITHER INCLUDE A CONTRACT CLAUSE FOR YOUR SABBATICAL OR ASK FOR A LATER START DATE. Do this after you have confirmed that you have the job in the bag and before you sign on the dotted line. Call me idealistic, but if they really want you because you’re that effin’ good, they will be happy to push back your start date so you can have a break in between jobs. If they need you ASAP, then tell them that yes, you can start soonest, but you need to go off for an already-scheduled sabbatical later in the year.

If you don't pursue personal happiness now, then when?!

4. USE YOUR NOTICE PERIOD AS THE SABBATICAL. For most, the notice period is between 1-3 months: enough time to jet off for that epic road trip across Patagonia that you’ve been daydreaming for years now. You can always negotiate with your boss when you resign if they’re willing to have a shorter handover period so you can have one or two months off before starting your new job. This relies heavily on how good your relationship is with your immediate superior and their influence in the office, as most companies will ask for a buy-out fee if you don’t serve your full notice. I’ve always found though, that as long as you have the blessings and full support of your boss, HR and management are more flexible in giving you exactly what you want.

My mantra: experiences over possessions / titles / positions! :-)

5. RE-NEGOTIATE YOUR ANNUAL LEAVES IN LIEU OF A RAISE. IMHO, additional annual leaves equate to money. You get paid to go on vacation, to put it simply. The way I see it, time is more valuable than money. You can earn back that cash, but you can’t turn back time (unless Marty McFly and Doc Brown finally give us a legit time machine!). If your employer is willing to give you both additional annual leaves AND a raise, then consider yourself blessed. But if they’re not, ask for more ALs instead – just make sure that the number of leaves you’re asking for is commensurate to the % increase they are willing to give you (ask for a higher number then nego-down from there). Most companies would easily say yes to additional leaves vs. a salary raise, since the latter directly impacts overhead costs.

My gratitude for bosses who understand my need for a break is THIS big (actually, more!)!

6. TIMING IS EVERYTHING. You have to learn how to stack the right cards in your favor as well, and this takes skills, practice, and a whole lot of EQ. If say, your team has been raising red flags on projects, then maybe it’s not the best time to ask for that sabbatical because your boss is probably getting headaches from all the crises that are sprouting left and right and is not in the mood to be generous. Ask when you have an ace up your sleeve (negotiations are all about LEVERAGE) and one way to get this is via an evaluation. I’ve realized that when everyone is happy with your performance, they’re more willing to reward you for your hard work. The important thing is to try – I've always believe in the saying: you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you NEGOTIATE for.

If I didn't negotiate for a sabbatical, I wouldn't have been able to spend time with my childhood BFFs in Europe before they ALL had kids ;-)

Ultimately, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to negotiating for a sabbatical, though the tips above make for a good start – these are the strategies that I’ve personally used in the past few years (for those asking how I can manage to travel so much even with a job, well, here you go!).

It was actually when I moved to Singapore that I realized I needed time offs to recharge and that it was OKAY to say I needed a break because I was burnt out, uninspired and emotionally, physically, and mentally SPENT (advertising can suck the soul out of anyone). Every single time I came back from a sabbatical, I’m happier and roaring to take on the world. Now, I make it a point to take a break as often as possible – with the regular 1 or 2 months off every couple of years. Don’t wait till you’re at your breaking point. You HAVE to be good to yourself. Think of it as a time for self-discovery, improvement, and reflection or as your chance to spend real quality time with loved ones without the constant demands and stresses of work hanging over your head. It will all be worth it in the end. :)

Image: FunnyJunk

HAPPY TRAVELS! x

#TipsTricks #Europe