Skip to content
Absenca

Sabbatical Leave

Also known as: sabbatical, career break

A sabbatical is an extended period of leave — paid or unpaid — usually offered to long-tenured employees for rest, study, or travel.

A sabbatical is a long, planned absence from work, typically ranging from a month to a year, granted for rest, study, volunteering, or travel. It is often a retention benefit available after an employee reaches a tenure milestone (for example five years).

Sabbaticals may be fully paid, partially paid, or unpaid, with the employee's role protected for their return. Because they're long, they need careful coverage planning and clear rules on eligibility and accrual during the break.

Related terms

Stop calculating this by hand

Absenca handles accrual, carry-over, pro-rata, and public holidays automatically — so every balance is right without a spreadsheet. Free for up to 15 people.