Must be nice. I'm out next week and it's stressful and I'll be prepared to work every day on our vacation.

Comeby! said:

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I came across a situation in my professional life where someone I know was taking one. It got me to thinking and I realized I don't know anyone who's done this. I thought it was a religious getaway, unless this is some sort of a nice way to say rehab, or furlough.
Do Aggies take sabbaticals? Weren't sure we programmed with that option at A&M.

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My Midwest company from 10 years ago used to allow that. I met an Aggie there who caught me reading TexAgs.
He is now back in Dallas.

Hardest worker I've ever met put in resignation today.

I've worked w her 7 years and I'm not sure I've ever seen her take a day off. She starts her new job 3 days after her last day here. It will be longest break I've ever seen her take.

She wasn't the smartest in the world, but I never doubted that she would give 100%

ToddyHill said:

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Charles Schwab offers them to their employees. Every five years they get to take four weeks off.

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I just call this a vacation.

Ha! Yeah, that's a holdover from my student worker days on campus. Things are much more interesting now.

I guess I'm sort of doing one. I'm 66 and had planned to retire in BCS but it's more expensive than I prefer. I grew up in the Big Bend region so I like desert and mountains. I've settled on Arizona. I've been here now 6 weeks and am staying through Thanksgiving to really test drive living here and not just visiting here.

This differs from a true sabbatical though because I'm working full time. One of the benefits of Covid was that workplaces changed. I'm loving the proximity to lakes, rivers, mountains and during the winter snow sports. The Arizona Snow Bowl didn't close until Memorial Day. It's a short drive to elevation and cooler temperatures. It's still 40's at night in Flagstaff. Prescott and Sedona are an easy day trip and much cooler.

I highly recommend it if there's a way to do it.

Saxsoon said:

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AgOutsideAustin said:

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My kid is going to start work at a large accounting firm and was told they have unlimited PTO as well.

Unlimited PTO and sabbaticals, what a time to be alive.

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Unlimited PTO is code for employees to never use it. Multiple studies show people take less in this system versus a use it or lose it.

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I totally agree and we have talked about it. He knows they are going to try and burn him out at first. He realizes it and he already has a couple days off planned for the Fall.

I give him credit he had a couple offers to consider and looked at them closely.

At the end of the day clear communication with bosses and having backup delegation means nothing should go wrong. In fact I know for a fact my managers commented how I handled the last time I was out of office for a week and it showed to them how on top I was of my work and how to delegate. Only once in 10 years of working have I been called on my personal cell to resolve an issue that wasn't foreseen.

Only been in this job for less than a year and I already have their trust where I can work virtually from another city for a week while my dad recovers from knee surgery. (We only go into the office two days anyway so it isn't a drastic thing regardless but I appreciate being able to work with them)

Saxsoon said:

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AgOutsideAustin said:

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My kid is going to start work at a large accounting firm and was told they have unlimited PTO as well.

Unlimited PTO and sabbaticals, what a time to be alive.

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Unlimited PTO is code for employees to never use it. Multiple studies show people take less in this system versus a use it or lose it.

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Studies do show that and it's the general rule, but that hasn't been the case at my employer. The unlimited PTO is great for leaving early, taking a half day, etc. and not having to be under a corporate microscope. People do generally take about the same PTO where I'm at. I think it greatly depends on the industry, the company and the people involved.

I think at the end of the day: it matters who you report to. If that person knows you are a hard charger, they won't care because they know you are solid.

PeekingDuck said:

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Intel used to do them, so I imagine there are quite a few Aggies that took them.

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I took two.

My first was 8 weeks and 2nd was 3 or 4 weeks.

boredatwork08 said:

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Too many of y'all are too dedicated to employers who couldn't give two s***s about you if things get tough. Take your time off. Your employer does not exist when you're on vacation. Push for better PTO policies. If you don't know what to do with yourself on a sabbatical, you may just be too far gone.

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This. It also sets a bad example for others on your team or in your organization if you're not taking time off, or worse, aren't disconnecting while you're taking time off.

More than setting a bad example, if you're a people manager, your team may start to resent you for it because the signal to them is they can't disconnect when they're on their PTO.
Not saying that's fair, but it is a reality.

jja79 said:

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I guess I'm sort of doing one. I'm 66 and had planned to retire in BCS but it's more expensive than I prefer. I grew up in the Big Bend region so I like desert and mountains. I've settled on Arizona. I've been here now 6 weeks and am staying through Thanksgiving to really test drive living here and not just visiting here.

This differs from a true sabbatical though because I'm working full time. One of the benefits of Covid was that workplaces changed. I'm loving the proximity to lakes, rivers, mountains and during the winter snow sports. The Arizona Snow Bowl didn't close until Memorial Day. It's a short drive to elevation and cooler temperatures. It's still 40's at night in Flagstaff. Prescott and Sedona are an easy day trip and much cooler.

I highly recommend it if there's a way to do it.

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my cousins are in Scottsdale so I travel there frequently on work and personal trips. love it

but I just don't want to live in a desert as I prefer the water.

even here in the Middle East I am only living in Airbnb apartments with view of the Med Sea. I like to drive through the desert, but don't like sand and lack of greenery and water. also Arizona is one of the most expensive states along with Florida over the last few years as everyone is moving there.

htxag09 said:

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I agree unlimited pto is a scam. But, to your point, nothing says you have to be paid out pto in an event of a lay off.

I was laid off during Covid, that company changed their policy to not pay out pto about a month before, they also changed the policy from two weeks per year served (rounded up), to one week per full year completed. I would have gotten like 11 weeks pay, instead got 3.

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If we're talking EY, I was there during the change from fixed to unlimited during Rona.

It was leaked from our People leader that it wiped $36m from the balance sheet for accrued PTO at termination for states where it is required like California and Colorado.

I'm working on a mindset shift when it comes to vacation. It's not something that you earn or is part of your compensation. To do a great job taking care of our customers and making the company a better place, we need you rested and energized. Having plenty of time off is a key part of making that happen.

Plenty of time off. Use it or lose it.

Whoa!