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Career breaks

A career break or sabbatical is a period of leave of (normally unpaid) absence from work of several months or even years, which does not break employees' continuity of employment.

Many employees take advantage of a career break to study, travel, carry out voluntary work or pursue their interests, among other things. Employers can also benefit from the experience and skills that employees gain while away.


    • STEM
    • Gender
    • Unconscious bias

    STEM returners project receives government backing

    by Ashleigh Webber 11 Feb 2023
    by Ashleigh Webber 11 Feb 2023

    The government is to fund a STEM returners project, helping women and carers get back into the sector following a break.

    • Latest News
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Pre-employment screening

    Employers urged to be more inclusive of candidates with gaps on CV

    by Ashleigh Webber 4 Oct 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 4 Oct 2022

    Employers should stop asking candidates for the dates of previous roles to improve chances for those with with gaps on their CVs.

    • STEM
    • Gender
    • Latest News

    Bias stopping STEM professionals returning after career break

    by Ashleigh Webber 23 Jun 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 23 Jun 2022

    Bias in STEM recruitment processes is preventing talented professionals from returning following a career break, research has found.

    • Latest News
    • HR practice
    • Leave

    How should HR approach sabbatical requests?

    by Rhona Darbyshire 21 Feb 2022
    by Rhona Darbyshire 21 Feb 2022

    It is a good idea to have a formal policy for career breaks in place, writes Rhoda Darbyshire.

    • Gender
    • NHS
    • Unconscious bias

    Women and ethnic minority surgeons less likely to be promoted

    by Ashleigh Webber 1 Sep 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 1 Sep 2021

    Women and ethnic minority groups are less likely to reach the top rank of surgeons than white men, even when...

    • Modern slavery
    • Zero hours
    • PROMOTED CONTENT

    Top 10 HR questions October 2018: annual leave and sickness absence

    by XpertHR 2 Nov 2018
    by XpertHR 2 Nov 2018

    How should employers deal with annual leave entitlement for employees on long-term sick leave? This issue is dealt with in...

    • Probationary periods
    • PROMOTED CONTENT
    • Latest News

    Top 10 HR questions September 2018 – probation dismissals and unavailable companions

    by XpertHR 2 Oct 2018
    by XpertHR 2 Oct 2018

    Can you dismiss before a probationary period ends if they're not up to the job?

    • Gender
    • Maternity
    • Returnships

    O2’s head of HR: Equality initiatives cannot exist in a vacuum

    by Ann Pickering 11 Jan 2017
    by Ann Pickering 11 Jan 2017

    Statistics continue to show a dearth of women in senior positions at top companies. Government needs to work with business...

    • Compassionate leave
    • Volunteering
    • Grandparental leave

    “Pawternity” leave? Time off work for pets and other leave of the future

    by Susan Dennehy 1 Dec 2016
    by Susan Dennehy 1 Dec 2016

    Around half of UK households own a pet, according to the RSPCA. So why is there not a specific legal...

    • China
    • Reservists
    • France

    Congratulation leave? Unusual types of leave from around the world

    by Claire Scullin 14 Jan 2016
    by Claire Scullin 14 Jan 2016

    Anyone thinking that the UK’s upcoming grandparental leave is unnecessary meddling by law-makers should look beyond these shores at the...

    • Retention of staff
    • Career breaks
    • Employment contracts

    Career breaks and sabbaticals: six points for employers to consider

    by Clio Springer 25 Jun 2015
    by Clio Springer 25 Jun 2015

    Career breaks can be a useful tool in employee retention. However, there are areas of uncertainty associated with their use,...

    • Nursery provision
    • Maternity
    • Paternity

    Top Employers for Working Families 2010 Finalists Announced

    by Personnel Today 20 Aug 2010
    by Personnel Today 20 Aug 2010

    Forty-four outstanding UK organisations have been shortlisted across 9 categories in the 2010 Top Employers for Working Families Awards.The awards, organised...

    • Latest News
    • Employment law
    • HR practice

    Workers take action to help employers survive recession

    by Personnel Today 19 Nov 2009
    by Personnel Today 19 Nov 2009

    More than half of UK workers have taken some form of action to help their employers survive the recession, according...

    • Latest News
    • Maternity
    • Employment law

    EHRC parental leave plans divide equality campaigners

    by Kat Baker 3 Apr 2009
    by Kat Baker 3 Apr 2009

    Equality campaigners and leading business groups have delivered a lukewarm response to new parental leave proposals aimed at generating greater...

    • Employment law
    • HR practice
    • Career breaks

    How to handle sabbaticals and lay offs

    by Personnel Today 9 Mar 2009
    by Personnel Today 9 Mar 2009

    Sabbaticals and lay offs offer alternatives to redundancy. But they must be handled with a great deal of care.

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